Funkytown Brewery to Open Near West Side Taproom
Funkytown Brewery, a Black-owned craft beer company, is opening a new taproom on Chicago's Near West Side. The new location will provide a physical space for the brewery to serve its products directly to consumers and contribute to the local commercial landscape.
- The new taproom is located in a vacant two-story industrial building at 1931 W. Lake St., near the recently renovated Damen Avenue Green Line station. Funkytown is raising $5 million in a seed funding round to cover the $2.85 million cost of the building and other expenses. - This project is supported by a $3.7 million grant from the City of Chicago, aimed at fostering minority-owned businesses and diversifying the craft beer industry, where less than 1% of breweries are Black-owned. - The brewery's location is strategically positioned to capitalize on the planned $7 billion "1901 Project," a massive mixed-use redevelopment surrounding the United Center led by the owners of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks. This positions the taproom as an early commercial tenant in a neighborhood on the cusp of significant transformation, similar to the trajectory of Fulton Market. - Studies have shown that the opening of a craft brewery can have a positive impact on local real estate values, with one study noting a potential increase of about 3% for condominiums and 10% for single-family homes within a mile radius. Breweries often act as catalysts for further economic development and revitalization in their immediate areas. - Founded in 2021 by childhood friends Rich Bloomfield, Greg Williams, and Zach Day, Funkytown currently operates out of the Pilot Project Brewing incubator in Logan Square. Their new facility will be their first standalone location, allowing for integrated brewing, distribution, and taproom operations with a planned opening in 2027. - The founders' business acumen has earned them significant recognition, including being named in Crain's 40 Under 40 and winning the Samuel Adams Brewing American Dream Business Experienceship Award. In 2023, Vinepair Magazine named Funkytown the Brewery of the Year. - Since launching, Funkytown has expanded its distribution to over 100 locations, including major venues like the United Center, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, and retailers such as Whole Foods and Mariano's.
