Ugly Mug Cafe, Chicago

When Mikky Wright came to Wicker Park in 1997, there weren't many coffee shops around. A serial entreprenuer, Mikky already owned business such as Alliance Bakery and Wicker Park Inn when he decided to remedy the coffee shop situation. So, a few contacts and a lot of paperwork later, he opened Ugly Mug Cafe, a community-focused, coffee-fueld hang out. Mikky hired a passionate, friendly staff of baristas, who prepare everything from standard Americanos to the house specialty Nutella Latte?a double shot of espresso in steamed milk with melted Nutella and chocolate sauce. The staff also double as sandwich smiths, layering together bacon, tomato, and garlic horseradish mayo in the Bob Loblaw panini, and serving it alongside a hot cup of smokey pumpkin bisque. In keeping with the community-friendly theme, they don't require anybody to buy anything in order to drop by, enjoy the smell of fresh-roasted coffee, and even hold their own mug full of piping hot imagination.