Café Selmarie prepares to shut its doors in 2024, after 40 years in business

by ABC-7 Chicago / November 25, 2023

CHICAGO (WLS) -- After 40 years, Café Selmarie, a beloved restaurant and bakery in the Lincoln Square neighborhood, plans to close in early 2024. Owner Birgit Kobayashi will be retiring.

The café was founded by Kobayashi and Jeanne Uzdawinis, who met as neighbors on Giddings Street. In September 1983 they created Café Selmarie just down the street from where they lived with their families. They started out in a tiny storefront with a handful of tables serving pastries and coffee, breaking down walls in 1999 to eventually double its size. The café has been a staple on Giddings Plaza, at the heart of the Lincoln Square community. Long before coffee shops were prevalent, the café had the first espresso machine in the neighborhood.

"We have loved being a part of the Lincoln Square community and watching it grow and flourish," Kobayashi said. "We are excited for the possibilities that this space holds for a new business and know the community will welcome them to the neighborhood."

Uzdawinis passed away in 2017. Despite having a truly wonderful staff, Kobayashi said she is ready for a new chapter in her life. Read more HERE