From Rivers & Roads to a Little Wild: An Edgewater Icon Serves Up an Expansion

Since its opening four years ago, the now-iconic Edgewater cafe Rivers & Roads has welcomed many students, faculty and neighbors. The national park-themed cafe, located just a few blocks west of campus, boasts a wide variety of coffee beverages, breakfast foods, sandwiches, pastries and more. 

Now, the restaurant will be serving even more than food.

In a recent Instagram post, Janine Waszkowski, who co-owns Rivers & Roads with her husband Mike, announced their plans for the space right next door on Devon Avenue — a shop called Little Wild. In addition to a “little bookstore” and “little market,” they announced plans to convert the new space into more cafe seating for their customers.  

“Between Loyola students and the Edgewater neighborhood, it felt like a really good opportunity to bring something for everyone,” Waszkowski said.

The Waszkowskis opened Rivers & Roads in 2021 to create a third space–somewhere for people to hang out outside of work or home–for the vibrant community. According to the owners, the cafe has begun to outgrow its space, so when the business next door recently closed, they saw a new opportunity.

“We ended up being a lot busier than we ever expected,” Waszkowski said. “We constantly run out of places to sit, and to be a place for people to gather, it obviously becomes difficult.”

In addition to adding 20-30 seats, the expansion also plans to feature an artists’ market and bookstore.

Waszkowski said she hopes these additions will draw attention to the wonderful community already existing around Clark Street and Devon Avenue.

“There’s so many great places on Clark Street that people can go to, bookstores and little markets. And sometimes it’s a lot harder to get out to these places,” Waszkowski said. “We thought it was a good opportunity to try to expand not only the seating but expand our offerings as well.”

The Little Wild bookstore is planned to have both bestsellers and local publishers. Waszkowski said the goal is to open the floor to poetry readings and similar events where the store can highlight authors and writers.

As for the market, it will consist of the well-loved Rivers & Roads bakery items as well as local vendors, featuring food, cards, pottery and other fantastical items. Janine says they’ll also highlight national small businesses they think will blend well with the neighborhood.

Third-year environmental science major Lily Migneron said she’s been coming to Rivers & Roads since her freshman year. 

“It’s just so close, and it’s beautiful and cool,” Migneron said, also noting her love of the rotating monthly drink menu.

Migneron said she and her friends frequently go to study at the cafe, but struggle with the limited capacity.

“We often end up having to go somewhere else just ‘cause there isn’t enough seating,” Migneron said.

Now, with expanding seating, support for local artists and an even larger third space for the community to enjoy, Waszkowski said she hopes the cafe will continue to be a staple.

“I really hope to continue being a third space for the Edgewater neighborhood,” Waszkowski said, “And to be able to offer more opportunities for local artists of all kinds in this space.”