We've already had a couple posts on Broad Shoulders Brewing, but recently the Chicagoist blog had a post about the space. Not a ton of new information, but a good read if you're into knowing as much as you can about our neighborhood. The fact that we found most interesting: And then there’s Broad Shoulders Brewing in Motor Row. Owner and Brewer Frank Lassandrello is a veteran of Goose Island and Lakefront Brewing in Milwaukee who’s currently busy building out his brewhouse at 2337 S. Michigan Ave. The street number, Lassandrello told us, contains a bit of serendipity. “’2337’ spells out ‘beer’ on a telephone keypad.”
The post goes on to profile some of the beers that they will make and says that they're still planning on a Summer opening (barring any setbacks).
(Hat tip: DS!)
(Image from Chicagoist)
45 comments:
EH...big whoop. Building is ugly and motor row is never advancing past what it is now---bookends for a burger king
Everything's coming up BEER... I can't wait to go to the Motor Row!
Sounds like a cool place. If I ever leave the south loop and head to Bronzeville, maybe I'll check it out.
why did they go so far south? so many open spaces closer to roosevelt
bad area-- too much violence and crime. No one will go
Can't wait for this! Who cares if it's a couple blocks more south than some of you would like. Jeez, give the complaining a rest people. This sounds great!
this area just seems so desolate and worthless. I love the tenacity though but please move closer to roosevelt. All that is there is a burger king, a ford dealer, and crime and looting
I'm pretty sure they own the building down there, so that would answer why there.
Also, someone mentioned this in a previous post about this brewery. While they are obviously going to cater to the neighborhood, the main function of their brewery is to create beer that they will sell all over the city, state and country (hopefully). It's not to be a bar for the South Loop really.
Regardless, I'm happy they chose this area and someone has to be a pioneer to improve an area....bravo!
I'VE WITNESSED "PIONEERS" BEFORE--- Room 21 for instance
Its just too far south, no one will go and its a shame because im sure the beer is good.
I think we have learned to ignore stupid comments from same 2-3 idiots. This is fantastic news! If you look at the South Loop this is the only area for a brewery to operate (the rest of the buildings are too commercial - other than the 2 or 3 that sit between 13th and 14th). Also, the buildings in that area are perfectly situated to take advantage of the residents, McCormick Place visitors and those outside of the South Loop (23rd Green Line stop will be there in 2014) & with hotels being planned for that immediate area as well.. it will be a fantastic spot.
With the green line stop and more city attention on motor row, times are different. Room 21 didn't have that going for it...Room 21 was a restaurant that relied on people to eat at it to sustain their business.
If Broad Shoulders can make a good product that gains traction in Chicago, theoretically they don't need anyone to come into their brewery to be successful.
The fact that they are going to provide the option for us in the sloop to come into their brewery and try some of their delicious beer (hopefully) is gravy.
But I understand what you're doing...haters are going to hate. Hope you're cynical view benefits you. Personally, i like to be optimistic when a new business tries out a new concept for the neighborhood.
Guinness is the only beer.
Everything else is garbage.
Who cares what it looks like and the neighborhood? You don't go looking for a steak dinner at the slaughterhouse.
im realistic....not negative.
take a walk down michigan right now....you will find bums, graffiti, empty buildings, rats, and eventually i-55. Go past that and there projects...
Like i said , im realistic, not stupid. Go ahead and paint a rosey picture, but its just not my style to be obtuse
I really don't see how this is a south loop story. This guy is opening a brewery in Bronzeville; best of luck to him; if I ever have an urge to go to Bronzeville, I'll swing by.
Also, how in the world can this blog talk about the opening of Spanglish (500 South State) and this place (2300 South Michigan) as if they are in the same neighborhood! They are almost 20 blocks apart! So not the same neighborhood.
Anyone who thinks this area is going to "take off" needs to have their head examined. You have projects just to the south and just to the north which will prevent any decent-minded person from ever wandering into motor row. There's a reason it has been a desolate wasteland for decades.
I believe there are TIF and/or other incentives to operating in that area. Reggie's and the Shrine are there,Cheap Trick is opening a place there, both Sun and Marshall Chess would like to buy Chess Studio at 2120, but it is already there nonetheless. I too wish something could be done for Michigan between Roosevelt and 22nd, but perhaps this could happen in a pincer movement.
Catherine537
brioad shoulders will eventually get sick of the crime and leave im sure
Hey Sloopin, can you figure out how to hide anon comments like Curbed.chicago.com.
For the douche bags calling the location Bronzeville....Bronzeville actually doesnt start until I-55 and this is North of I-55. Furthermore, if all you are going to do is bash the South Loop, move back to Lincoln Park or better yet, go to the suburbs.
There is a difference between bashing and pointing out the facts. Michigan n Roosevelt and 23rd n Michigan are completely different areas.
20 blocks is the average size of a large neighborhood. Lincoln Park for example: On the North by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River, on the south by North Avenue, and on the east by Lake Michigan. In any direction, that is about 20 blocks. How big do you think River North is? Bucktown? One direction or another, it covers about 15-20 blocks. Is Reggies to far South? For who? The place packs them in nightly. People are not just coming from the south loop, they are coming from all different areas.. south, red line, north, etc.. Motor Row is actually better situated to take advantage of visitors as well as residents.
DR. SUESS move back to naperville already. To the person who goes to Nightwood in pilsen to eat, hope you like bullets whizzing past your head.
Broad Shoulders brewery is a really cool addition to the hood. Good luck to Frank; really looking forward to trying out the beer!
I've lived around the corner from this location for two years now. I've yet to witness any crime or violence. It's definitely desolate but not crime ridden like people who have never been here claim. It's pathetic that there are those who are afraid to venture 11 blocks south. Put on your big boy pants and come down and drink some delicious beers.
I'd like to see it actually happen... so far lots of talk and no action
this side of town is a dump, crime or no crime...
If you actually enjoy living there you need your head examined
You kids talk tough and half no idea what ur talking about. Anyone that thinks the area around grand park and the area around cermak is the same is completely clueless. Scared and bad investment are two different thinks kids. Grow up goodness
I don't have a car, and I wouldn't drive back home from a brew pub knowing myself. Problem is it can be very difficult getting cabs around there. I've left Reggie's late at night a couple times and had a hell of a time getting a cab. This could be a serious issue for their bar business. Of course, a low rent neighborhood makes perfect sense to do the actual brewing. I wish them luck. I love seeing new breweries opening in the city. Actual production of real goods is great for us.
As an aside - unless Sloopy finds a way to force people to register to comment, named posts are worthless. I have posted a few times under my name and have been mocked by mental cases who think it's amusing to troll a neighborhood blog. Anyone can post as John Worthington, or Anonymous, or BRENDAN, etc.
Dr Seuss u are a troll who cannot spell so i am assuming youre 14
better make sure the beer truck is bullet proof
Nobody said Cermak is the same as Grant Park. It just isn't as scary as people think. Having new businesses sprouting in different areas is exactly what the south loop needs. The negativity of some previous posters is astounding , especially the fool making head examination comments.
I also find it ironic that Dr. Suess is telling people to grow up!
the denial on here is incredible
This area is desolate and borders projects---this is fact. Go ahead and dress it up any way you want it. The truth hurts....get your head examined
15 years ago a lot of the sloop was just as desolate.
Motor row has a lot of potential and businesses like these are the first step to turning that area around. With the projects gone there's no excuse left to stay out of there.
Motor Row....lol.
i dont know whats better, the people riding in their wheel chairs in the middle of the street peddling for change or the semi trailer lots with chained up pitbulls. Oh yeah...this area will just "BUSTLING" IN A FEW YEARS
Oh boy you just wait and see! All you haters gonna eat your words i tell ya
"take a walk down michigan right now....you will find bums, graffiti, empty buildings, rats"
You can replace "Michigan" with any street in the city proper.
Hilarious peoples perceptions of this area. Looting? LOL
Best of luck to Broad Shoulders Brewing
Its places like this that can serve as a magnet for other ventures in this area
**side note** My opinions on "anon" posters have certianly been proven in this thread. Yikes
Awesome, I've been following the developments of BSB and I can't wait! I will be there regularly.
BRENDAN
I find it hilarious that certian people get cut down on here because they have an opinion on these so called experts that post this drivel under "anon". Reading some of these comments on here makes me worry for humanity...
Lagunitas brewery is going to open at 18th and washtena - excuse my spelling.
@ UnFitguy
Sigh. If you are going to hijack my name and post garbage on this blog, at least spell it in the same way. Again, good luck to Broad Shoulders brewery, and welcome to the (extended) South Loop neighborhood!
I'm very excited about Broad Shoulders, and was out of town and missed the news about Lagunitas opening a brewery that's out of our neighborhood, but very exciting indeed. The fact that a very successful craft brewer is opening a second brewery here and that he's choosing to do so in Douglas, and include a tasting room and retail aspect shows that the South Side is not the unmitigated hell hole that some commenters seem to think it is. Here's hoping it can help spark more good things in Douglas, as Broad Shoulders likely will in Motor Row.
Julie
This is big time news! This is the only comment you need to read to get the big picture:
The South Loop is fully developed from Congress to Cullerton(20th) - there are pockets to be filled, but mainly it is developed.
The area south of Cullerton: You have two anchors.. McCormick Place on the East and Chinatown on the West. As you move east from Chinatown.. you need development on State (fomer ickes area), then you hit the Green Line Station area of State/Wabash, where infill development will come.
Then you have South Michigan Motor Row which needs about 8 properties + 2 lots to be developed.
Lexington at Michigan/Cermak has already rented 1/3 of the building (in 1 month); next to them is 2100 S. Indiana that is starting construction( 50 unit rental loft building) & then you hit McCormick which Hyatt has already started construction on their 2nd tower. More boutique hotels are "planned" as well along Cermak and Indiana.
Yes, we all agree that the 2 buildings (affordable housing on South Michigan ) need to go to truly connect the South Loop and far south loop, but the truth is think about how many of these types of buildings are in Old Town, River North, West Loop, even Gold Coast!
There is no other area situated like this (close to downtown, museums, lake front access, chinatown, convention, etc..). Motor Row gives the South Loop another POCKET neighborhood that currently does not exist anywhere other than San Francisco or NY. The architecture of those buildings is unmatched along with the openness on the inside + the fact that it is 2 full blocks. Get rid of that Burger King and you could have a world class neighborhood.
In regards to the stupid comments about graffiti, bums, etc. You really need to get a life. Have you been to Wicker Park, West Loop, Bucktown, Wrigleyville, Lakeview?? The entire South Loop Congress to Stevenson gets 1/100 of that type of mess.
There are still some randoms in the area on a minimal basis, but you are still talking about CHICAGO!
Those that live near Roosevelt will be able to hop on the Green Line to Cermak/23rd and go to Reggies, Velvet Lounge, Cheap Trick, Broad Shoulders, Monkey Bar Gym, etc..
Just to address any comments about giving "the bad people" more access to the neighborhood b/c of a new CTA stop, need to realize, just as Roosevelt has some folks waiting for buses, etc. there are opportunities for these guys everywhere in the world. A new CTA stop outweighs random crime.
Looking forward to the beers at Broad Shoulders and the future for the area!
Motor Row area is light years ahead of where the South Loop and Near South side started in 1996. In 1996, if you lived south of Roosevelt people thought your were crazy, and it was 500x worse and desolate. Talk to any pioneer who lived to walk in to the Roosevelt Hotel liquor store (a smell you will never forget), or the St. James SRO where Jewel now stands, or how about that fine dining and shopping at the Amoco gas station at Roosevelt ('as bad as the oatmeal as they served in the Cook County Jail').
Motor Row already has much of the building stock in very good shape, the roads and sidewalks are already very good, and you have an anchor location that needs a little bit of momentum. All it takes is for someone to be the first. This is the right product to make that happen.
Oh man just going through your blog brought so many good memories of my life there back in 2007. I know it's only been a little half a decade past but your take on city living in what I reckon as the finest city in America is just, ugh, I'm lost for words! Beautiful! Well at least I'm in an equally gorgeous place now, at least as far as CNN is concerned, the best place on Earth to live in. sydney car hire
Looks like they've run into building permit issues with the city (I know, unbelievable, right?) and opening is delayed until 2013. Possibly as early as January.
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