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Pilsen auto shop reopens as Café Jon and Galleria

Pilsen auto shop reopens as Café Jon and Galleria

Built World Chicago, IL local

A 30-year auto repair shop on 18th Street becomes a 6,000-square-foot café, gallery and event venue.

Today: Block Club Chicago profiles Café Jon

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

For 30 years, Ruben Mandujano repaired cars at 2002 W. 18th St. in Pilsen. This summer, the same 6,000-square-foot building reopened as Café Jon and Galleria, a coffee house, art gallery and event venue.

Mandujano turned down developers who wanted to buy the property and partnered with Uduimoh Umolu and Belall Taher, founders of Chicago-based Jon Basíl Tequila. The café is the tequila brand's first physical location and keeps Mandujano in a neighborhood where he has lived for 40 years.

Why it matters

The conversion keeps a longtime Pilsen property in local hands while testing whether a tequila brand can anchor a community café and gallery.

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Key Indicators

6,000 sq ft
Building size
Former auto shop now café, gallery and event venue.
4,000 sq ft
Gallery and event space
Flexible space for exhibitions and private events.
30 years
Auto shop tenure
Ruben Mandujano operated Ruben's Auto Service.
900+
Jon Basíl Tequila retail locations
Brand availability as of 2026, according to co-founder Belall Taher.
32.5%
Pilsen residents paying over $1,000 rent in 2005
Baseline from a 2023 University of Illinois Chicago report.
51.5%
Pilsen residents paying over $1,000 rent in 2020
Endpoint from the same University of Illinois Chicago report.

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People Involved

RM
Ruben Mandujano
Co-owner, Café Jon and Galleria; former owner, Ruben's Auto Service
Co-owner and partner at Café Jon and Galleria
UU
Uduimoh Umolu
Co-founder, Jon Basíl Tequila; partner, Café Jon and Galleria
Co-owner of Café Jon and Galleria
BT
Belall Taher
Co-founder, Jon Basíl Tequila; partner, Café Jon and Galleria
Co-owner of Café Jon and Galleria

Organizations Involved

CJ
Café Jon and Galleria
Café, art gallery and event venue
Open

A café, art gallery and event venue in a former Pilsen auto shop.
Jon Basíl Tequila
Jon Basíl Tequila
Tequila brand
Flagship physical location opened at Café Jon

Chicago-based tequila brand founded in 2015.
RA
Ruben's Auto Service
Auto repair shop
Closed in 2024

Auto repair shop that operated for 30 years in Pilsen.
MC
Monday Coffee Company
Coffee provider
Supplies coffee to Café Jon

Chicago coffee company supplying Café Jon.
SB
Saints Bakery
Baking residency
Makes pastries in-house at Café Jon

Baking residency making pastries in-house at Café Jon.
XH
Xoco House Gallery
Art gallery
Owned by Ruben Mandujano

Nearby Pilsen gallery owned by Ruben Mandujano.

Timeline

2015 November 2026

5 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Block Club Chicago profiles Café Jon

    Today Media

    Block Club Chicago reports on the transformation of the auto shop into a café and gallery.

  2. Café Jon and Galleria holds official opening

    Opening

    The café, gallery and event venue opens in the former auto shop.

  3. Café Jon begins weekend service

    Opening

    The café opens for weekend-only service before its official launch.

  4. Ruben's Auto Service closes

    Business

    Mandujano closes the 30-year-old auto repair shop at 2002 W. 18th St.

  5. Jon Basíl Tequila founded

    Business

    Uduimoh Umolu and Belall Taher start the Chicago-based tequila brand.

Scenarios

1

Café Jon expands to full-week daytime service

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: Eater Chicago, Café Jon and Galleria website

The café currently opens Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. If traffic supports it, owners could add Monday hours or expand evening programming.

2

Café Jon becomes a regular gallery venue with rotating exhibitions

Likely Resolves by Nov 2, 2027

Discussed by: Café Jon and Galleria website, Eater Chicago

The 4,000-square-foot gallery is designed for exhibitions and private events. Success would mean a published calendar of resident artist shows.

3

Jon Basíl Tequila opens a second physical location

Unlikely Resolves by Nov 2, 2028

Discussed by: Eater Chicago

Café Jon is the brand's first physical space. If it works as a flagship, founders could replicate the model.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2005-2020

Pilsen rent burden rise (2005-2020)

A 2023 University of Illinois Chicago report found that the share of Pilsen residents paying more than $1,000 in rent rose from 32.5% in 2005 to 51.5% in 2020.

Then

Longtime residents faced higher housing costs as the 18th Street corridor drew new investment.

Now

Pilsen remains a center of debate over displacement and development.

Why this matters now

Mandujano turned down developer offers for his property and chose a partnership that kept him in the neighborhood.

1990s-2024

Ruben's Auto Service (1990s-2024)

Ruben Mandujano operated an auto repair shop at 2002 W. 18th St. for 30 years.

Then

He closed the shop in 2024.

Now

The building was converted into Café Jon and Galleria, which displays auto shop memorabilia.

Why this matters now

The café's design and ownership connect directly to the site's previous use.

2015

Jon Basíl Tequila founding (2015)

Uduimoh Umolu and Belall Taher founded a Chicago-based tequila brand that sells blanco, reposado and añejo tequila produced in Jalisco, Mexico.

Then

The brand grew through word-of-mouth investments and community contributions.

Now

By 2026, it was available at more than 900 locations, according to Taher.

Why this matters now

Café Jon is the brand's first physical location and flagship.

Sources

(4)
Block Club Chicago Eater Chicago The Taste Archives Café Jon and Galleria