Chicago continues to open more things up, and a sure sign of that is that the city’s iconic dessert, Eli’s Cheesecake, will once again open its doors to the public after a two-year hiatus. 

The bakery has been producing desserts to supply grocery stores, restaurants, airlines, mail order and curb side pickup, but closed its café and retail store during the pandemic.

Eli’s Café, located inside Eli’s Cheesecake World, is like a big bakery with a little bakery inside.  Customers can now enjoy the bakery case brimming with an entirely new selection of exclusive desserts: cookies, birthday cakes, layer cakes, brownies and bars, tarts and more, in addition to a huge selection of cheesecake and a coffee bar.  

A percentage of the café’s first week sales will be donated to the New Horizons Center for the Developmentally Disabled, a not-for-profit agency that provides education and training for children and adults with severe developmental disabilities and autism. The agency serves students and adults from the Chicago and suburban areas.

On Thursday, May 12, a ribbon cutting and cake cutting took place at Eli’s Cheesecake World.