After an extensive study session for the ACT, my friends and I stepped out into the unpredictable Chicago weather, hoping to reward ourselves with a trip to Complementary Café. The walk itself felt like a mix of exhaustion and relief, as we had just spent over an hour doing work, and we wanted something warm and comforting. But when we finally got there, we were met with disappointment: the café was closed for the day.
Not wanting to go back to the library, we thought back to a place we had passed on the way to a new spot called BonBon Bakeshop. We decided to check it out.
The moment we walked in, the entire mood shifted. The space felt like it was designed with Gen Z in mind: aesthetic and effortlessly cozy. Music from artists like Olivia Dean and Bad Bunny played softly in the background, creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
I ordered the Whirlwind coffee, and it completely exceeded my expectations. You could taste the sweet bean and it was also reasonably priced. My friends ordered the hot chocolate, but this wasn’t just any hot chocolate. It was freshly made by the owner herself, Karianne Soulsby, and came with a unique twist: they got to drop in a chocolate truffle that melted into the drink. As they experimented with it, the silence turned something simple into a playful, memorable moment.
The café’s aroma was so inviting, and it was hard to believe the shop had only been open for two months.
Soulsby explained, “I am a career changer. I have been a pastry chef for about 20 years now. I currently work at a hotel downtown as well. And I’m at that point in my life where I’m old and it’s time; if I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it.”
She continued sharing the story of how BonBon Bakeshop began.
“The funny story is the other counterpoint, Stephen, who was the original chocolatier here, and Grace, their partners. He came up to me, and we’d been friends at the farmer’s market for many years, for like three years now, and he walked up to me one day and said, you know, what would you say if you and I started a coffee shop?” Soulsby said. “I’m like, you know, okay. Then that was it. And so we worked on it for about a year before we actually were open. I love what I do. I love what I do. And I love creating new and exciting things. I like responding to people and, you know, getting suggestions and recommendations and all that stuff.”
For Soulsby, the café isn’t just a business, it’s a way to bring joy to people.
“I view it this kind of as a service,” Soulsby said. “It sounds kind of weird. But, you know, you don’t know if people are having rough days; you know how things have been recently. And so, you come in and you make them happy, and they get something that really brings them a little bit of joy, and it’s a little, but it can make somebody’s day. When people come in, they leave happier than when they came in. That is the point. That’s always been the point.”
By the end of our visit, it was clear that BonBon Bakeshop is more than just a café. It’s a place built on passion, creativity, and a desire to bring people joy. What started as a disappointing change of plans turned into one of the most unexpected, enjoyable experiences. Sometimes the best places aren’t the ones you plan for; they’re the ones you stumble upon.
