Grounds for Excitement: Queen Yemeni Coffee Brewing Up a New Home at Lawrence & Broadway, Plus a Historic Parking Lot Finally Gets Built

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Uptown · March 10, 2026

Uptown's Broadway corridor is buzzing with back-to-back good news this week, and coffee lovers may want to sit down for this one. After years of near-misses and empty storefronts, Queen Yemeni Coffee has confirmed it is coming soon to the prominent corner space at Lawrence and Broadway — the same address that once housed one of Uptown's four Starbucks locations. The arrival of Queen Yemeni Coffee marks a fresh chapter for a block that has long cried out for a neighborhood anchor, and signals continued momentum for Uptown's revitalized retail scene.

Just steps away, another long-dormant piece of Uptown real estate is finally springing to life. CEDARst Companies — best known for its popular Flats developments — has won approval for a brand-new five-story mixed-use building at 4725 N. Clifton Avenue. The project will replace a surface parking lot that has sat empty since at least the early 1980s, sitting just north of the iconic Uptown Broadway Building. Designed by local firm Hirsch MPG, the development will bring 40 residential units and new ground-floor retail to one of the neighborhood's most historically rich blocks — infill that Uptown boosters have been waiting decades to see.

Taken together, these two wins paint a vivid picture of an Uptown on the move. Whether you're a coffee enthusiast or simply a neighbor who loves watching vacant lots bloom into vibrant buildings, now is a great time to stay plugged in. Follow all the latest neighborhood updates at exploreuptown.org and keep watching Socialhood!

Sources:
1. https://www.uptownupdate.com/
2. https://chicagoyimby.com/2026/01/plans-approved-for-mixed-use-development-in-uptown.html
3. https://chicago.urbanize.city/neighborhood/uptown