Bucktown's Damen Avenue Just Got Its Coolest New Hangout: Bandit Running and Soloway Coffee Open a One-of-a-Kind Shared Store

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Bucktown · March 2, 2026

Bucktown's already buzzing Damen Avenue corridor has a dynamic new destination for runners, coffee lovers, and anyone in between. Bandit Running — the New York-born fitness apparel brand that's taken the running world by storm — has opened its first-ever Chicago location at 1708 N. Damen Ave., and it brought a serious café partner along for the ride: Soloway Coffee, one of the city's most celebrated Ukrainian-owned coffee shops.

The collaboration is unlike anything else in the neighborhood. Bandit's sleek new space — which renovated the former Fjällräven storefront — features stadium-style seating, an eight-piece surround sound speaker system, and a fully retractable front wall of folding glass doors that opens the shop to the street when the weather cooperates. Soloway's café counter anchors the space with both indoor and outdoor seating, serving up expertly crafted coffee from 7 a.m. daily. For Bandit, the concept is intentional: the brand sees the store as a natural gathering point for Chicago's passionate running community before or after hitting the pavement — or the 606 Trail just steps away.

Bucktown is quickly cementing itself as the city's running retail hub — Salomon opened a location nearby on Damen just last August. Whether you're gearing up for spring training, hunting for your next great cup of coffee, or just looking for a lively new neighborhood hangout, 1708 N. Damen Ave. is worth a visit. Stop in, grab a Soloway pour-over, and see what all the buzz is about.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/retail/bandit-running-soloway-coffee-opening-shared-bucktown-store
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/15/bandit-running-opens-first-chicago-store-in-bucktown-with-cafe-from-soloway-coffee/