More than one person questioned Carolyn Kirkby’s sanity — including herself — after she decided to move her upscale, popular cafe to a boarded-up building in a tattered part of town.

Kirkby said people labeled as “crazy” the idea to move Carolyn’s Coffee Connection to 1351 52nd St.

“I started to get that same feeling, given that they said I had been drawing crowds that wouldn’t venture into what some people deemed a not-so-great area,” she said. “But to tell the truth, I’ve had no problems. People continue to walk through the door.”

Business has been better than might be expected, with sales up 35 percent to 40 percent compared to last year at the old site, 5706 Sixth Ave., she said. She closed the Sixth Avenue shop just after Christmas 2008 because of personal reasons and to move to a higher-traffic site. She opened the new site on Oct. 23 after months of extensive remodeling.

Going into debt to renovate has proven worth the risk so far.

“This is a good investment, and it’s a good area to invest in,” said Kirkby. “This area is changing, and I do see it as the gateway to downtown. For this area to change and grow will take people who will take the risk to invest in it.

“Four or five years from now, this area will be booming and continue to grow, and I hope I’ll be seen as someone who contributed to that.”

Kirkby said benefits to locating there include 52nd Street being the most direct route from the Interstate to the lakefront; the Boys and Girls Club plans to open a community center to the west in 2011, and being near the Metra station.

Overhauling the building included new windows, interior walls, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, lighting and electrical outlets and illumination at each table. The floor was refinished. She established a full kitchen. The playroom is bigger and carpeted. Free wireless continues.

She hopes to have a drive-through window before the end of the year.

The easiest way to get to the parking lot, she said, is to turn south onto 13th Court and then into the alleyway. The cafe’s driveway onto 52nd Street is an exit.

She has six employees and plans to hire more.

Kirkby has been asked often about expanding.

“I say to just let me enjoy what I’m doing now month to month,” she said. “However, I’ll never say no to an opportunity.”