Cafe General Manager & Store Leader

Blank Street, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual salary range $70k–$95k

15 days paid leave

Health plan options

Commuter benefits

Parental leave

Bereavement leave

Regulars program - free coffee/matcha

Team social outings

Free Blank Street swag

Job summary

Blank Street, Inc. is seeking a General Manager in Chicago to own store operations, lead hospitality teams, and drive exceptional customer service.

You will oversee scheduling, training, and performance, while managing inventory, vendor relations, and local marketing initiatives to grow the store’s revenue and brand loyalty. Expected to work 45 hours per week across peak days, with a strong focus on coffee quality and team engagement in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience managing and leading single-store unit operations in high growth hospitality or consumer brands.
• Experience managing inventory and supply chain ordering.
• Love for coffee and customer service.
• Experience working in a unionized environment is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of specialty coffee, espresso and equipment.
• Strong decision making and multitasking skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create a motivating and engaging team culture by consistently celebrating, training, coaching, and mentoring your team.
• Step in to cover scheduling gaps or time off in the store schedule.
• Create and publish staff schedules according to state and local labor laws.
• Review and approve timecards and paid time off requests in a timely manner ensuring your team is paid accurately and on time.
• Recruit super star talent in collaboration with the People Team.
• Oversee and validate the quality of training being executed by your Shift Leads, providing feedback and coaching where needed.
• Ensure coffee accreditations are handled on time for new employees in line with company standards.
• Develop meaningful ties with neighborhood businesses and people to help grow local brand loyalty.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Inventory management

Customer service

Coffee expertise

Interpersonal skills

Decision making

Job description

Blank Street, Inc. is seeking a General Manager in Chicago to own store operations, lead hospitality teams, and drive exceptional customer service.

You will oversee scheduling, training, and performance, while managing inventory, vendor relations, and local marketing initiatives to grow the store’s revenue and brand loyalty. Expected to work 45 hours per week across peak days, with a strong focus on coffee quality and team engagement in a fast-paced environment.