To open a coffee shop in Chicago, you need a Retail Food Establishment license from the City's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP); here is the fastest path. Verify zoning for "retail food" at your address and seating/occupant load; add a Sidewalk Cafe or Public Way Use permit if you will place tables, signs, or awnings outside. Register your business (FEIN), obtain an Illinois sales tax (IBT) number, secure a certificate of insurance naming "City of Chicago" as additional insured, and apply through Chicago Business Direct. Submit scaled floor plans for CDPH Food Protection plan review if you are building out or altering equipment; include NSF-listed equipment, a dedicated hand sink, a 3-compartment sink or high-temp dish machine, a mop sink, adequate refrigeration (41 F or below), and ventilation. At least one Certified Food Protection Manager must be on duty; all food handlers need approved training. Schedule the pre-license inspection only after utilities are on, thermometers and sanitizer are in place, pest control is contracted, and restrooms and ADA access are compliant. Roasting beans onsite requires an air pollution permit and proper exhaust; live entertainment or alcohol requires separate licenses. Expect licensing to hinge on final inspections and documented training.
