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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Motor Row Brewing Opens $2.7 Million Brewery In Chicago, Illinois

12/22/2014
Motor Row Brewing opened its $2.7 million, 8,700 square foot, brewery inside the former Federal Motor Car Co. showroom at 2337 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

A craft brewery specializing in lager beers, the company expects to produce around 3,000 barrels of beer for distribution to bars and restaurants in Chicago and to be sold on site from the Motor Row Historic District.

“We fell in love with this neighborhood and couldn’t be more excited about the prospects for opening our business here,” said Bob Lassandrello, Owner, Motor Row Brewing. “Our slogan is “Craft Beer for the City that Works” and we believe that its time that the south side of Chicago was represented by a craft brewery that fits with its history and work ethic. We would like to thank the City of Chicago for partnering with us in this venture and we couldn’t be happier to be on the leading edge of Motor Row development.”

In February 2013, the City approved up to $628,000 in Tax Increment Financing for interior and exterior repairs of the 1910 building, which has been transformed to include brewing operations, distribution space, a retail/tasting room and a full taproom that will be open to the public starting in January 2015.

“Today we are marking another step in the transformation of Motor Row into Chicago’s next entertainment district. This is a prime example of how public investment leads to private businesses like Motor Row Brewing betting on the future of this historic neighborhood and bringing new jobs and opportunities to the area,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Chicago’s historic Motor Row was home to more than 100 different automobile-related businesses in the early 20th Century. Stretching primarily along the 2200 to 2600 blocks of South Michigan Avenue, Motor Row was designated a Chicago Landmark District in 2000.

Public investments like the Green Line CTA train station currently being built just west of McCormick Place and Motor Row, are providing much improved access to the area from other parts of Chicago, and supporting private investments like Motor Row Brewing, the Governor’s Office said.

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