City Lights Eastside brings a neighborhood cafe to Line Street

EDITOR’s NOTE: As of April 2, the coffee shop’s opening has been delayed. More information to come as available.

City Lights Eastside, a restored neighborhood cafe, is set to open at 12 Line St. on April 2.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Candace Patterson, who co-owns the cafe with business partner Gregg Lambton-Carr, both of whom were part of the initial team at City Lights Coffee on Market Street. The coffee shop closed in 2021 after a successful 15-year run of serving the community.

Patterson said she loved the former space but ultimately knew its time had come to an end.

“We wanted to be in a neighborhood,” Patterson said. “Not knowing where we were going to go — we put our stuff in storage and started looking.”

At first glance, she described the building as beautiful but in a state of complete disrepair. It was a “let’s do it” moment, yet Patterson never expected it to take two years after approval to finally open.

“In some ways, having two years has been a blessing,” Patterson said. “It’s been really lucky to have all this time, because we wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Patterson and her husband poured their heart into everything, from building furniture to sourcing antiques for the Barbie-themed bathroom, while Lambton-Carr handled back-end tasks such as costing and acquiring insurance, or anything it takes to “actually run a business.”

Out with (some of) the old

With much labor of love and support from friends — this once-vacant building has transformed into a dream space of theirs.

“When you walk in — the old wood, the schoolhouse light bulbs, even the marble bar — it reminds me of sitting in a cafe in Paris,” Patterson said. “I love the juxtaposition of the old world and new together.”

This mix serves as a great representation for what they’ve cultivated in the new space — blending elements from their original coffee shop into the expanded cafe, but with a broader range of choices and opportunities than before.

“We’re trying to be open to everyone,” she said. “We’re going to have regular old affordable breakfast sandwiches, bagels, a breakfast burrito and then we’re also going to have high end items.”

In partnership with Nordic Cooking, a diverse array of vegan and gluten free choices will be offered, including gluten-free bread for sandwiches. Quick grab-and-go options such as salads and acai bowls will be available, along with pastries from Mabel Mae’s Bakery and treats like croissants from Saffron Bakery.

Connection and creativity

“Come in, get something to-go, chat for a second. But when you have time, come sit down, meet people,” Patterson said.

“We have home, work and if we’re lucky enough, we have that third place that makes us feel just as comfortable as home,” she said. Patterson envisions the cafe will serve as a third space for some and become a gathering ground for the community and its neighbors, long-time residents and newcomers alike, to connect and get to know one another.

Patterson and Lambton-Carr, both artists, saw the cafe as an opportunity for the community to share their creative work. The cafe features a rotating art wall to display the work of local artists and into the night, you can expect to see performances like slam poetry and live music by local talents on the outside patio.

In addition to serving coffee, City Lights also offers a variety of teas and has its own beer and wine program. Once open in full operation, you can enjoy a coffee or mimosa with a bite to eat from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and return later for more of a beer and wine bar vibe with charcuterie options and live entertainment from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (9 p.m. on weekdays).

“I am so proud,” Patterson said. “I think we’ve created a space that people will want to come and not leave.”