Buying a Home in 2021

Watch this informative seminar hosted by the Skokie Public Library where Aaron Masliansky from Dream Town Realty, Jennifer LaMell Goldstone from Horwitch Goldstone & Shaw LLC, Diane Falk from First Midwest Bank and Lucas Weigle from True Home Inspections speak about buying a home in 2021.

Hannah and Fred Show-December 20, 2020

WCGO Radio · The Hannah & Fred Show (12-20-20)

This week “The Hannah and Fred Show” wraps up a rather, um, unusual year. Are you a McRib Fan? Comedian Vince Maranto is . . . or rather, he’s a McMega Fan! We learn all there is to know about this cult favorite, and more. Jeff Conway shares his most recent topics for Forbes and what is in production TV- and movie-wise. WCGO teammate Aaron Masliansky talks real estate in the northern burbs and beyond. And our final guest, Tim McKinney, talks the next NBA season and how it’s NOT in a bubble.

Best Time to Sell? When Competition Is at an All-Time Low

In a recent survey of home sellers by Qualtrics, 87% of respondents said they were concerned their home won’t sell because of the pandemic and resulting economic recession. Of the respondents, 51% said they are “seriously worried.” That concern seems reasonable considering the current condition of the economy. The data, however, is showing that home purchasers are still very active despite the disruptions American families have experienced this year.

The latest Existing Home Sales Report published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that 340,000 single-family homes sold in this country last month. NAR’s most recent Pending Sales Report (homes going into contract) surpassed last month’s number by over 44%, which far exceeded analysts’ projections of 15%. ShowingTime reported that appointments to see homes (both virtually and in-person) have increased in every region of the country and are up 21.4% nationwide over the same time last year.

While buyer activity is surging, the number of listings has fallen to an all-time low. Zelman Associates, in their latest residential real estate report, revealed that housing inventory as a percentage of households has fallen to 1.2%, which is half of the long-term average and lower than any other time in our history.

Bidding Wars Heating Up Again

With buyer demand growing and the supply of available homes shrinking, purchasers are again finding themselves needing to outbid other buyers. NAR, in a recent blog post, revealed:

“On average, there were about three offers on a home that closed in May, up from just about two in April 2020 and in May 2019 (2.3 offers).”

Bidding wars guarantee houses sell quickly at a price near or even slightly over the listing price.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking of selling, don’t be concerned about putting your house on the market right now. There’s no better time to sell an item than when demand for it is high and supply is low. It is exactly at that time when you will negotiate your best possible deal.

Will the Housing Market Turn Around This Year?

Today, many people are asking themselves if they should buy or sell a home in 2020. Some have shifted their plans or put them on hold over the past couple of months, and understandably so. Everyone seems to be wondering if the market is going to change and when the economy will turn around. If you’re trying to figure out what’s going to happen and how to play your cards this year, you’re not alone.

This spring in the 2020 NAR Flash Survey: Economic Pulse, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been tracking the behavior changes of homebuyers and sellers. In a reaction to their most recent survey, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, noted the beginnings of a turn in the market:

“After a pause, home sellers are gearing up to list their properties with the reopening of the economy…Plenty of buyers also appear ready to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates and the stability that comes with these locked-in monthly payments into future years.”

What does the survey indicate about sellers?

Sellers are positioning themselves to make moves this year. More than 3 in 4 potential sellers are preparing to sell their homes once stay-at-home orders are lifted and they feel more confident, which means more homes will start to be available for interested buyers.

Just this week, Zillow also reported an uptick in listings, which is great news for the health of the market:

“The number of new for-sale listings overall has shown improvement, up 5.9% last week from the previous week. New listings of the most-expensive homes…are now seeing the biggest resurgence, up 8%. The uptick is likely a sign sellers are feeling more confident because of improving buyer demand, as newly pending sales have also jumped up during the same period.”

What does the survey note about buyers?

The recent pandemic has clearly impacted buyer preferences, showing:

• 5% of the respondents said buyers are shifting their focus from urban to suburban areas.

• 1 in 8 Realtors report changes in desired home features, with home offices, bigger yards, and more space for their families becoming increasingly important.

• Only 17% said buyers stopped looking due to concerns about their employment or loss of a job.

As we’ve mentioned before, buyer demand is strong right now, and many are simply waiting for more inventory to become available so they can make a move, especially as the country begins to reopen.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, let’s connect today. There’s a good chance an eager buyer is looking for a home just like yours.

A Surprising Shift to the ‘Burbs May Be on the Rise

Whie many people across the U.S. have traditionally enjoyed the perks of an urban lifestyle, some who live in more populated city limits today are beginning to rethink their current neighborhoods. Being in close proximity to everything from the grocery store to local entertainment is definitely a perk, especially if you can also walk to some of these hot spots and have a short commute to work. The trade-off, however, is that highly populated cities can lack access to open space, a yard, and other desirable features. These are the kinds of things you may miss when spending a lot of time at home. When it comes to social distancing, as we’ve experienced recently, the newest trend seems to be around re-evaluating a once-desired city lifestyle and trading it for suburban or rural living.

George Ratiu, Senior Economist at realtor.com notes:

“With the re-opening of the economy scheduled to be cautious, the impact on consumer preferences will likely shift buying behavior…consumers are already looking for larger homes, bigger yards, access to the outdoors and more separation from neighbors. As we move into the recovery stage, these preferences will play an important role in the type of homes consumers will want to buy. They will also play a role in the coming discussions on zoning and urban planning. While higher density has been a hallmark of urban development over the past decade, the pandemic may lead to a re-thinking of space allocation.”

The Harris Poll recently surveyed 2,000 Americans, and 39% of the respondents who live in urban areas indicated the COVID-19 crisis has caused them to consider moving to a less populated area.

Today, moving outside the city limits is also more feasible than ever, especially as Americans have quickly become more accustomed to – and more accepting of – remote work. According to the Pew Research Center, access to the Internet has increased significantly in rural and suburban areas, making working from home more accessible. The number of people working from home has also spiked considerably, even before the pandemic came into play this year.

Bottom Line

If you have a home in the suburbs or a rural area, you may see an increasing number of buyers looking for a property like yours. If you’re thinking of buying and don’t mind a commute to work for the well-being of your family, you may want to consider looking at homes for sale outside the city. Let’s connect today to discuss the options available in our area.

U.S. Homeownership Rate Rises to Highest Point in 8 Years

For nearly two months, most of us have been following strict stay-at-home orders from our state and local governments. It is a whole new way of life that has put our daily lives on pause. On the other hand, many of us have also found a sense of comfort by slowing down and spending time at home, highlighting the feeling of security that comes with having a much-needed safe place for our families to live.

The latest results of the Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS) provided by the U.S. Census Bureau shows how Americans place immense value in homeownership, and it is continuing to grow in the United States. The results indicate that the homeownership rate increased to 65.3% for the first quarter of 2020, a number that has been rising since 2016 and is the highest we’ve seen in eight years (see graph below):

Why is the rate increasing? The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) explained:

“Strong owner household formation with around 2.7 million homeowners added in the first quarter has driven up the homeownership rate, especially under the decreasing mortgage interest rates and strong new home sales and existing home sales in the first two months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economy.”

The NAHB also emphasizes the year-over-year increase in each generational group:

“The homeownership rates among all age groups increased in the first quarter 2020. Households under 35, mostly first-time homebuyers, registered the largest gains, with the homeownership rate up 1.9 percentage points from a year ago. Households ages 35-44 experienced a 1.2 percentage points gain, followed by the 55-64 age group (a 0.9 percentage point increase), the 45-54 age group (a 0.8 percentage point gain), and the 65+ group age (up by 0.2 percentage point).” (See chart below):

Homeownership is an important part of the American dream, especially in moments like this when many are feeling incredibly grateful for the home they have to shelter in place with their families. COVID-19 may be slowing our lives down, but it is showing us the emotional value of homeownership too.

Bottom Line

If you’re considering buying a home this year, let’s connect to set a plan that will help you get one step closer to achieving your dream.

How to Test-Drive a Neighborhood While Sheltering in Place

Some Highlights

• Staying at home doesn’t mean your search for a new place needs to come to a standstill.

• Check out these tips on how to explore other neighborhoods virtually in the homebuying process. You may find a spot that better suits your needs without ever leaving your living room!

• Let’s connect today so you have help with all of the additional steps along the way, and you’re ready to make your next move.

Buying a Home Right Now: Easy? No. Smart? Yes.

Through all the volatility in the economy right now, some have put their search for a home on hold, yet others have not. According to ShowingTime, the real estate industry's leading showing management technology provider, buyers have started to reappear over the last several weeks. In the latest report, they revealed:

“The March ShowingTime Showing Index® recorded the first nationwide drop in showing traffic in eight months as communities responded to COVID-19. Early April data show signs of an upswing, however.”

Why would people be setting appointments to look at prospective homes when the process of purchasing a home has become more difficult with shelter-in-place orders throughout the country?

Here are three reasons for this uptick in activity:

1. Some people need to move. Whether because of a death in the family, a new birth, divorce, financial hardship, or a job transfer, some families need to make a move as quickly as possible.

2. Real estate agents across the country have become very innovative, utilizing technology that allows purchasers to virtually:

• View homes

• Meet with mortgage professionals

• Consult with their agent throughout the process

All of this can happen within the required safety protocols, so real estate professionals are continuing to help families make important moves.

3. Buyers understand that mortgage rates are a key component when determining their monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage interest rates are very close to all-time lows and afford today’s purchaser the opportunity to save tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the loan.

Looking closely at the third reason, we can see that there’s a big difference between purchasing a house last December and purchasing one now (see chart below):

Bottom Line

Many families have decided not to postpone their plans to purchase a home, even in these difficult times. If you need to make a move, let’s connect today so you have a trusted advisor to safely and professionally guide you through the process.

What Impact Might COVID-19 Have on Home Values?

A big challenge facing the housing industry is determining what impact the current pandemic may have on home values. Some buyers are hoping for major price reductions because the health crisis is straining the economy.

The price of any item, however, is determined by supply and demand, which is how many items are available in relation to how many consumers want to buy that item.

In residential real estate, the measurement used to decipher that ratio is called months supply of inventory. A normal market would have 6-7 months of inventory. Anything over seven months would be considered a buyers’ market, with downward pressure on prices. Anything under six months would indicate a sellers’ market, which would put upward pressure on prices.

Going into March of this year, the supply stood at three months – a strong seller’s market. While buyer demand has decreased rather dramatically during the pandemic, the number of homes on the market has also decreased. The recently released Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed we currently have 3.4 months of inventory. This means homes should maintain their value during the pandemic.

This information is consistent with the research completed by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, which recently reported:

“Historical analysis showed us that pandemics are usually V-shaped (sharp recessions that recover quickly enough to provide little damage to home prices).”

What are the experts saying?

Here’s a look at what some experts recently reported on the matter:

Ivy Zelman, President, Zelman & Associates

“Supported by our analysis of home price dynamics through cycles and other periods of economic and housing disruption, we expect home price appreciation to decelerate from current levels in 2020, though easily remain in positive territory year over year given the beneficial factors of record-low inventories & a historically-low interest rate environment.”

Freddie Mac

“The fiscal stimulus provided by the CARES Act will mute the impact that the economic shock has on house prices. Additionally, forbearance and foreclosure mitigation programs will limit the fire sale contagion effect on house prices. We forecast house prices to fall 0.5 percentage points over the next four quarters. Two forces prevent a collapse in house prices. First, as we indicated in our earlier research report, U.S. housing markets face a large supply deficit. Second, population growth and pent up household formations provide a tailwind to housing demand. Price growth accelerates back towards a long-run trend of between 2 and 3% per year.”

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist, First American

“The housing supply remains at historically low levels, so house price growth is likely to slow, but it’s unlikely to go negative.”

Bottom Line

Even though the economy has been placed on pause, it appears home prices will remain steady throughout the pandemic.

How to Buy and Sell During our Stay at Home

By: Dream Town Realty

The Chicagoland area has been under a ‘stay-at-home’ order for over a week now, but as an essential business, Dream Town brokers have been continuing to find creative and safe ways to conduct business for their clients. While the executive order does permit brokers to engage in real estate showings, there are some additional safety measures that have been put in place during this unprecedented time. 

• Clients and brokers must maintain a distance of 6 feet from one another during showings. 

• Individuals present should bring hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes to all showings. 

• To limit the number of individuals, sellers should not be present, and listing brokers may opt to use a lock box to grant access to buyers and their brokers. Individuals present on showings should be limited to the buyer’s broker and the primary decision maker for the buyers. 

• Sellers should turn on all lights and open doors to any rooms/closets prior to the showing.

• Brokers and buyers are encouraged to drive separately to and from showings.

• Individuals with any sign of symptoms should stay home. 

While in-person showings and open houses are not restricted by law, the Chicago Association of Realtors strongly urges brokers to find alternative ways to show properties during this time. Dream Town brokers have been leveraging property videos, 3D virtual tours (Matterport), video conferencing software, and even virtual open houses to safely show their listings to prospective buyers. 

Dream Town broker Aaron Masliansky is now conducting his business almost exclusively through video conferencing and lockboxes. This past week, he conducted a final walk-through with an out-of-state buyer and the listing agent via a 3-way Zoom call. “The listing agent had the keys to the property and walked my client and I through the home on a video call, which I recorded,” Aaron said. “After seeing the property at our virtual final walk-through, the listing agent mailed my buyer the keys so we could proceed with closing virtually.” 

We have even seen our brokers hosting virtual open houses, providing members of the public with an opportunity to tour the home during a pre-specified time, just like a traditional open house. “I am able to bring the house to our potential buyer, even those who may not have looked at the house initially, while keeping everyone safe,” says Dream Town broker Abby Powell. “Potential buyers can literally tour the home while in their robe and slippers, in the comfort of their own home.” Abby has been hosting her virtual open houses via Facebook Live, showcasing a pre-recorded on-screen walk-through and answering questions in real-time from her viewing audience. Abby has also relied on Dream Town’s Matterport program to create 3D walk-throughs that buyers can access at any time. 

Aaron has been utilizing Matterport for his own listings, too. But what about his buyer clients that want to tour properties listed by other brokerages? “I’ve been asking listing brokers for videos or virtual walkthroughs to share with my buyer clients,” he says. “During this time, everyone is working together to come up with creative solutions – not just other real estate brokers, but industry partners like attorneys, lenders, and title companies, too.” 

With so much technology at our disposal, the stay-at-home order isn’t stopping sellers from listing their homes. Dream Town broker Nicole Hajdu still has many active listings and listings under contract. She even just listed her own home for sale, and spent the first week of the stay-at home order cleaning, staging, and photographing her house… at a distance. “The stagers came in with booties and gloves, and were out of my house within an hour. The photographers came in at a different time, wearing gloves and masks,” she says. “We all stayed 6 feet away from each other at all times as we moved through the home.” 

However, Nicole understands that listing a home during the stay at home order is not the right decision for everyone. She says she is taking it day by day, and client by client. “For seller clients, this is a great time to clean and prep their homes to go on the market. For buyers, it’s a great time to do as much preliminary research as possible to narrow down their areas of interest and what they are looking for in a home,” she says. “Sometimes we need to take a few steps back to move forward in a better, more favorable direction.” 

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home during the stay at home order, talk to your broker about the timeline that makes the most sense for you. Ultimately, health and safety is the number one priority. 

Time for more: Ideas on how to make the most of your time at home

By: Dream Town Realty

With the new Stay At Home order in effect, we’re finding ways to reconnect with friends and family, and rediscovering joy in simple pleasures.

We want to help inspire you to live your best life, so we compiled some of our favorite ways to get active and stay engaged at home below!

As for the real estate market, we’re helping to connect people and properties with a multitude of virtual tools, and title and mortgage companies are stepping up to get closings done as seamlessly as possible.

We hope you are staying safe and well!

Best Board Games for Everyone
Spring Cleaning Challenge
Tour the National Parks
Tour the Louvre
Explore the Surface of Mars
Stream a Met Opera Performance
Best Apps for Home Workouts
Virtual Yoga Classes from Local Studios
Free Live Workouts From  Planet Fitness
Milk Street Online Cooking Classes
Cooking Tutorials from The Chopping Block
Give Back: Support Chicago Restaurant Workers
Download a free ebook

Indoor Activities for Kids
Indoor Activities for Toddlers
Virtual Kids Classes
Optimizing Your Home to Stay In with the Kids
Host a Virtual Playdate
Tour a farm
Podcasts to Enjoy with Your Kids
Virtually Visit Your Favorite Chicago Places
Cosmic Kids Yoga
America’s Test Kitchen Classroom
Tour the San Diego Zoo
Try these math and reading games
Play games to learn all about animals
Work on Phonics Skills
Hang with Dr. Seuss
Have someone else read to your kid

20 Tips for Working from Home
11 Tips for Working from Home Alongside Your Partner
Staying Productive While Working From Home
Take Time to Set Goals
Learn a New Skill
Take a Course from a Top University
Learn a New Language
Make a Schedule for Yourself
Clean Your Whole House
Tackle Spring Home Maintenance

YWCA Evanston/North Shore partners with Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse on deconstruction

Evanston, IL, November 11, 2019 — YWCA Evanston/North Shore, in partnership with the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse, has begun deconstruction of the property it owns at 1730 Ridge Avenue. This is the first step in YWCA’s long-range expansion plan, which will break ground in 2020.

“Our campus expansion plan will greatly enhance our ability to provide comprehensive domestic violence services to women and their families,” said Karen Singer, CEO and president of YWCA Evanston/North Shore. “In addition to adding space, we will be improving existing facilities to augment our work in racial justice and gender equity, economic empowerment for women, and aquatics.”

YWCA is partnering with the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse because the local non-profit organization employs high quality, sustainable deconstruction practices.

Deconstruction is the careful dismantlement of building components for reuse, repurposing and recycling. In contrast to demolition, deconstruction reduces waste and conserves energy and natural resources. Instead of being hauled to a landfill, sustainable items retrieved from deconstruction – such as flooring, wood trim, windows, doors, and plumbing equipment – are sold at the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse at a low cost to the community.

The Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse also offers a holistic workforce training program, supporting men and women who are overcoming barriers to employment, training them to become skilled members of the building trades.

“We are thrilled to be working with the YWCA, said Aina Gutierrez, executive director of the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse. “This project demonstrates their commitment to environmental sustainability and workforce development. We are excited to be a small part of their future growth, which will benefit all of us in the community.”

The Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse, located at 2101 Dempster Street, is a non-profit organization that promotes the reduction of waste in landfills through sustainable deconstruction and renovation building practices. For more information, including hours, visit www.evanstonrebuildingwarehouse.org.

YWCA Evanston/North Shore works to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen local communities. It serves more than 10,000 people annually in northern Cook County. Learn more www.ywca-ens.org.

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Below: Workers from the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse have already begun the deconstruction process as part of YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s long-term expansion plan.

Inside the Skev — October Edition: Getting to Know Your Neighbors

Fred Rogers made a name for himself asking one simple question: “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Within the borders of Skokie and Evanston — or “The Skev” — being that neighbor means a little more for the small businesses.

Whether it’s catching the latest gossip at the town barber, grabbing a quick lunch at the neighborhood cafe, or meeting a friend for a pint at the brewpub, communities are created by the residents who know why it’s worth taking the extra time, or spending a few more bucks, to engage with and support local businesses. In this month’s Inside the Skev Podcast roundup, we dive into the stories that showcase just what it means to be a true neighbor.

‘The King and Princess of Skokie’ 

The air would still be crisp and the tree buds would be starting to bloom, but in Skokie spring had already started.The first sign? Mickey Natale’s red 1963 Chevy Corvette Stingray was parked in front of King Kuts on Dempster. Mickey, like his car, epitomizes the classic local barber. He’s a friend to anyone who walks through the door and the owner of a barbershop that moonlights as a community center. 

“It’s a party shop with barber chairs,” Mickey joked. His daughter Liz runs the shop with him, and she agreed that the business license might say barber shop, but King Kuts was so much more. 

King Kuts also has inadvertently become a haven for birds over the years as, like most animal oddities at a locally-owned shop, accidently become a staple part of the shop’s decor. That’s what happened after their Zebra Finches a customer gave them mated, which turned two birds into 18.

“We started giving them away because we had too many birds,” Liz recalled. “It became a joke. Free bird with haircut.” 

Jokes aside, King Kuts has become an institution in Skokie for 57 years because the impact it’s had on generations of families. Grandfathers, fathers, sons and grandsons…a solid way to create life-long customers. Mickey started his business with his brother Kenny in October 1962, when the duo were just 19 and 23. They had one customer so loyal he drove from out of town for more than 60 years. Skokie honored the business for its 50th by making October 6th “King Kuts Day.” Local businesses have named staple cuisines and sandwiches after Mickey. He’s a character people know.

Over the nearly six decades in business, the King Kut crew has found its share of stories, and become part of its customers lives far beyond the shop. In the 70s when the long hair trend caused business to slow down, they grew their business plans by doing work on their customer’s cars after hours. They’re on the list for plenty of family weddings and bar mitzvahs and they usually know a lot about what’s going on in everyone’s lives. 

Even in his 80s, there’s nowhere Mickey would rather spend his days. “That’s my life,” Mickey said. “They’re all my friends. We have so many customers and everyone is so unique. There aren’t many like us anymore.”

“You feel part of the community. You’re part of the families,” Liz echoed. “It keeps you healthier. You have your community and you always have somewhere to go.”

Want to learn more about King Kuts’ history? Listen to the rest of this edition of Inside the Skev here.

Kings Kuts is located at 3558 Dempster Street in Skokie.

Small Hops to Big Spaces 

The craft beer scene is booming, but not all craft beer joints are created equal. Many start with a big space and hope people will come. Shawn Decker and Cesar Marron took a different approach: Start really, really small and grow through community support. From there, Sketchbook Brewing was born.

“One of the things that’s a little rate is how organic we are. We didn’t start with a big batch of capital. We were home brewers and we loved to make beer,” Sean said. “We recruited community members. It’s a true community-based brewery, That’s who came.”

Since opening in Evanston in 2014, Sketchbook Brewing grew fast and gained loyalty through its coveted membership program that the founders attribute to the brewery’s rapid success. The Skokie brewery plans are underway. Now they can call themselves true local Skevanstonians. 

“We wanted to create a space for us to share what we were making. It was about creating a community space, instead of just creating a brewery. We couldn’t have done it without our neighbors and customers,” Cesar said. 

Sketchbook began as a homemade creation, that started with humble roots and filling growlers in an alley. Demand blossomed and the friends who met at Evanston’s Homebrew Club quickly became business associates. 

“We had enough money to put together a DIY brew system. There were no pockets to pre-pay for the materials,” Sean explained. Then the membership program started and the buzz around their beer was so good that people started buying into the concept,

“They hadn’t even tasted the beer, but they were investing in the idea of local beer. That was huge,” Sean said.

Sketchbook prides itself on being part of the community and using its brewery as a way to bring people together for good conversations. That’s why you won’t find TVs at either of their locations, which was a decision supported by customers.

“There is incredible community support. We personally just know a lot of people and that was the starting point for community connections,” Cesar said.

That community feel is emulated by the growth on Chicago Avenue that Sean says has a “”Brooklyn-esque feel” that has helped local businesses grow. Sketchbook is now ramping up business, expanding its space in Evanston as it gets roots into Skokie. This growth, of course, takes plenty of time investment from the owners and their families, but luckily their wives also work at the brewery. 

“It’s always family time at work and it’s always work time at home,” Sean joked. “[Our wives] got pulled in when they saw into it the community was.”

Want to learn more about Sketchbook Brewing’s story? Listen to the rest of this edition of Inside the Skev here.

Sketchbook Brewery is located at 821 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, and are building a second facility at 4901 Main Street in Skokie.

A Place Where All People Are Welcome’ 

It’s common for restaurants to come and go. Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston, however, remains a staple that’s celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. Owner David Lipschutz joined at the age of 22 with the original owners, Ivan Newell and Fran Welch.

Ivan met Fran after inquiring about a room for rent, and eventually that random encounter turned into a love interest. The two, in “blind faith” opened a cafe and ran the joint with just one employee. By 1982 Ivan and Fran were focused on their growing family, which left little time or energy for the cafe. They approached David about buying the cafe and he eagerly took their offer. His lead of faith was filled with plenty of ideas to transform the restaurant into his own dream.

The vegetarian establishment was a trend-setter and managed to wade what it describes on its website as the “waning hippie days of the ’70′s, the beef-crazy ’80’s, the PC ’90’s, and the booms and busts of the last decade.” If there was any community that would support David’s vision, it would be Evanston.

By 1985, Blind Faith Cafe landed in its current location, which included a bakery and another dining room. The cafe was officially a staple in Evanston. Through zoning battles and obtaining a liquor license in a once dry community, David faced his fair share of restaurant owner challenges, but that has only invigorated him. 

David himself considers himself more of a baker than a chef, but he’s become a master of both. It was when he was eight he would bake Jiffy mix cakes at home. Now his goal remains sharing his passion for vegetarian cuisine with his community. 

The cafe has kept a few classic dishes from the 80s, but David prides himself on mixing things up and experimenting. Some of the best dishes came out of chef tests with whatever was leftover in the fridge. One of his most notable former employees was Stephen Colbert, which David jokingly admitted wasn’t cut out for the restaurant business.

As an Evanston kid himself, David found pride in being part of the community, which he found struck the perfect balance for Blind Faith Cafe’s patrons. 

“It’s a small, big town. That’s one of the appeals of Evanston. It’s not suburbia. It’s not Chicago. It’s got that nice balance of the two,” David said. “The cafe has become one of the backdrops of Evanston.” 

Four decades certainly designates his establishment as an institution, and David is content with that title. 

“Some people function well in an institution and I guess I’m one of them. I’ve had kids come in with their parents and they came back and worked for me and then came back with their own kids — and then they worked for me. I’ve seen three generations come through as staff, as customers, as neighbors. I’m proud of that.”

David is also proud to be a place where people feel comfortable coming. 

“Blind Faith is definitely a place where all people are welcome. We want people to feel like they are in our living room and our dining room. They are our guests and we sincerely want them to have a good experience. We want to let them know if they aren’t happy, we want to make them happy.”

Want to learn more about  Blind Faith Cafe’s story? Listen to the rest of this edition of Inside the Skev here.

Blind Faith Cafe is located at 525 Dempster St. Evanston.