Coffee Lab will be migrating next month down Noyes Street to the storefront vacated by the made-to-order sandwich shop Rollin’ To Go.

The north Evanston cafe, at 922 Noyes St., will be moving to both accommodate more customers and introduce a food menu in an expanded space, Coffee Lab’s owner Chris An said. Rollin’ closed in July due to financial troubles and legal conflicts, but several of the shop’s most popular sandwiches will be served at a nearby grocery store next month.

The empty space at 910 Noyes St. is almost double the size of Coffee Lab’s current one, which struggles to fit the bulk of customers who choose to linger in the shop, An said.

“The bigger space has more potential to bring people in and accommodate students to study,” he said.

Although the move required An to take a loan from the bank, he said he hopes the extra food sales will help make up the difference in rent. Coffee Lab currently serves desserts such as scones, but customers have long requested more substantial options such as sandwiches, An said.

Communications sophomore Erica Rottenborn said during her first visit to Coffee Lab she noticed the cafe could use more space for customers when the staff pulled out an extra table from the back room to fit her group of four.

With the additional space, the cafe could make a good meeting place for city staff considering its proximity to the Civic Center, said Paul Zalmezak, an Evanston economic development official, in an email.

“The move to the former Rollin’ To Go space will hopefully grow the coffee business,” Zalmezak said. “The current space doesn’t have the space to meet demand.”

The cafe began construction this week on its future storefront, including installing new counters and ordering equipment, An said. The relocated Coffee Lab will open its doors during the first half of October, he said.

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