Heartland Cafe

Originally opened in 1976 by two activists as the "Sweet Home Chicago Heartland Café," it became a cultural icon for the diverse neighborhood,[1] known as much for its hippie ambience and left-leaning politics as for its largely (but not exclusively) vegetarian food.

[4][5][6] Politicians ranging from local candidates to Barack Obama held rallies and events at the Heartland creating a long history of political activism and served as a civic forum for Rogers Park and Chicago.

[8] The adjoining Roy's Red Line Tap known for its cheap drinks and pool tables, run by Roy Kawaguchi until 1996, became part of the Heartland Cafe institutional mix as the Redline Tap and music venue.

[9] Heartland Cafe's last owner was Tom Rosenfeld, an organic farmer who also operated Earth First Farms in southwest Michigan.

[10] Under Rosenfeld's ownership, Heartland was home to a full service natural food grocery store, sit down restaurant and live music venue.