Back in 2021, we caught wind of a building for sale—though “caught wind” might be generous. There was just one quiet listing, no sign out front, nothing to suggest it was on the market. But curiosity got the best of us. We hopped on the highway and made our way to Avondale, to what was then Olde Chicago Antiques at 3110 N Kedzie. The moment we stepped through the double doors and into that cavernous space, something shifted. Amidst the vintage treasures and forgotten oddities, our eyes were drawn upward—along the spine of this 100-year-old barrel-roofed building, a skylight spilled daylight into the room. At that moment, our vision for a future roastery and café snapped into focus. We knew we had to make it ours. The process wasn’t quick. Negotiating the sale and finalizing the purchase took the better part of a year. Securing the necessary permits took nearly another. But slowly, carefully, we began transforming the space—adding new elements while preserving what made it special, that skylight chief among them. Today, this building is our home. It’s where we’ll roast all of Metric’s coffees, open our doors for tours and cuppings, and, through Milli, welcome the neighborhood for food, drink, and connection in a space that still feels like a dream come true.