History

The building at 3300 East Lake Street has long been part of the Lake Street corridor’s commercial fabric, housing a series of neighborhood restaurants over the decades, including Molly Quinn’s and Embers.

By the early 2010s, however, the property had fallen into deep disrepair. It was vacant, foreclosed, and unsafe, with a history of security challenges and structural failures. During and after the recession, disinvestment along East Lake left many properties struggling, and the future of the building was uncertain.

The Vision

In 2013, Redesign saw 3300 East Lake as both a challenge and an opportunity. At the time, Longfellow Grill was the only broadly-known sit-down restaurant on East Lake; nearly all other food options were fast-casual. The prevailing belief was that East Lake Street was not a good place to open a full-service restaurant.

Redesign wanted to challenge that assumption. The organization initially envisioned the site as a broader redevelopment opportunity, with ambitions to assemble adjacent properties to increase density along the corridor, increasing vitality and the customer base for the commercial district. As the project evolved, the focus shifted toward strengthening street-level retail and supporting restaurant operators who could bring energy and permanence back to East Lake.

This project also marked Redesign’s first major commercial investment outside of Franklin Avenue, reflecting a commitment to expanding its community development work into the other neighborhoods of Greater Longfellow.

To increase accessibility and vibrancy, the building was divided into two commercial spaces, creating more storefronts, more doors on the street, and more opportunities for small businesses to succeed.

To increase accessibility and vibrancy, the building was divided into two commercial spaces, creating more storefronts, more doors on the street, and more opportunities for small businesses to succeed.

Community Mission & Impact

Redesign’s goal for 3300 East Lake was to help restore confidence in East Lake Street as a destination for locally owned businesses and full-service dining. Sonora Grill, previously located in Midtown Global Market, became one of the building’s anchor tenants and received a below-market loan from the OCS Revolving Loan Fund to help them expand.

Redesign also partnered with Locus Architecture to support the restaurant kitchen buildout and improve the building’s exterior, ensuring the space was both functional for operators and welcoming to the broader community.

The second commercial space was home to Repair Lair for ten years before transitioning to MoonStone in 2024, continuing a legacy of values-aligned, locally rooted businesses.

Today, 3300 East Lake Street demonstrates how strategic acquisition, patient capital, and hands-on support can revive underutilized properties and strengthen neighborhood commercial corridors, helping small businesses to thrive while contributing to a more vibrant, resilient East Lake Street.