New Lenox Library Completes Café Construction, Prepares for February Grand Opening
New Lenox Public Library District Board of Trustees Meeting | January 19, 2026
Article Summary:
The New Lenox Public Library District has finalized the construction of its new in-house café, with officials preparing for a highly anticipated grand opening in early February. The Board of Trustees approved the final payment for the project, marking the end of the major facility upgrade.
Library Café Key Points:
-
Facilities Coordinator Nikki Orchard confirmed the new café space is complete.
-
A grand opening is officially scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, with the potential for an earlier soft launch.
-
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the final payment application for Kandu Construction, the contractor for the project.
-
The library’s Information Technology department has already installed security cameras in the new space in preparation for the opening.
The New Lenox Public Library District Board of Trustees on Monday, January 19, 2026, celebrated the completion of the library’s new café space, officially green-lighting the final contractor payments and setting a date for the grand opening.
According to a departmental report from Facilities Coordinator Nikki Orchard, the physical construction of the new café space is fully complete. Executive Director Michelle Krooswyk informed the Board that all necessary paperwork and project closeout information has been finalized.
The library has scheduled the café’s grand opening for February 2, 2026. However, Krooswyk noted that the café may open its doors slightly earlier for a soft launch to ensure operations run smoothly before the official debut. Information Technology Coordinator Devin Arbuthnot reported that his department has already hung a camera in the café space to monitor the area.
To formally close out the construction phase of the project, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the final pay application for Kandu Construction, the firm responsible for the café buildout. The approval was passed as part of the Board’s consent agenda, advanced by a motion from Trustee Dr. Edward Tatro and seconded by Trustee Colette Loecke.
Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Latest News Stories
New Lenox 122 Eyes Future Budget Cuts to Offset Full-Day Kindergarten Costs, Approves Quad Plus Tax Abatement
Minooka Blasts Five Home Runs to Overpower Lincoln-Way Central 12-2
New Lenox Seeks $2.5 Million State Loan for Water Main Replacements, Sets $1.2 Million in Sureties for Spencer Meadows
Board Approves $1.04 Million in New Curriculum for New Lenox District 122
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Community Park District Board of Commissioners for February 18, 2026
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Township Board of Trustees for February 12, 2026
Tingley’s Perfect 5-for-5 Day, Shutdown Bullpen Rally Lincoln-Way Central Past Joliet Catholic 13-6
New Lenox Mayor Slams Springfield Affordable Housing Proposal as “Garbage,” Board Passes Opposing Resolution
Frankfort Man Arrested by State Police for Threatening Governor Pritzker
St. Charles East Blanks Lincoln-Way Central 10-0 Behind Dominant Pitching and Majkszak’s Power
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Capital Improvements & IT Committee for March 3, 2026
New Lenox District 122 Approves Full-Day Kindergarten for 2027-2028, Extends Teacher Contract
New Lenox Park District Set to Launch Massive ADA Audits Across Dozens of Local Parks
