An opening date has been announced for the upcoming Goose Island Beer Co. brewpub at 1219 W Blackhawk Street in West Town. Located in the rear of the Salt Shed entertainment complex which opened last year, the brewpub is a relocation of their previous brewpub not too far west. The development is a collaboration between the brewery and 16” On Center.
Structures of the Salt Shed Complex by Lamar Johnson Collaborative
The large space will help finish off the large complex years in the making. The completed center is home to a 3,600-person indoor venue and 5,000-person outdoor venue. That outdoor area dubbed The Fairgrounds connects to multiple local shops and outdoor eateries, flanked by the old garage building which will be the home of Goose Island.
Rendering of the Salt Shed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Finally bringing the brewery to Goose Island, the new location replaces their original flagship at 1800 N Clybourn Avenue in Lincoln Park after over 30 years according to Block Club. The local brewery which premiered in 1988 also operates a location at 1800 W Fulton Street, having closed a Wrigleyville location in 2015 as well.
Salt Shed redevelopment. Photo by Jack Crawford
The new spot will feature a large bar and kitchen with a revamped menu. Its location at a music venue is no mistake, connecting the brewer which was sold in 2011 to Anheuser-Busch, to the music scene. It is unknown if its famous block party will be relocated from the Fulton Street brewpub. The new spot is expected to open on May 3rd.
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Off topic but… How does going to the pub to get a beer work when there’s an outdoor concert? Do you have to buy a ticket to the concert too? Otherwise people at the pub could listen for free – which is cool – but I doubt it.
When training for Dragon Boat races on the river last year, we could hear the outdoor concerts very well – that’s why I think one could hear them from the pub.
My assumption is the brewery would be closed to the public and treated like a sponsored event. I don’t think they have that many festival events though. Most concerts are indoors.
Seems like a stretch to move to the shed if they weren’t making money at Lincoln Park. There’s not much in that area and it will be lean in non-summer concert season unless unless the shed can attract year-long talent in a 3600 capacity venue. It was interesting to see the venue once, but I can’t say the acoustics were that great. It will let them charge 300% markup for their beer at these events. Hopefully they won’t push exclusivity for these events or it’s a hard pass.
Is it any different than people sitting outside Wrigley Field during a concert?