Real estate firm partners with brewery on second District Brew Yards location, bringing popular concept to Wheeling’s Restaurant Row
Structured Development and Burnt City Brewing recently celebrated the grand opening of the second District Brew Yards location, at 700 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling, Ill. The latest addition to the suburb’s popular Restaurant Row corridor, District Brew Yards in Wheeling builds on the success of the original location, which opened in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood in 2019 as the nation’s first brewery collective with a pour-your-own beer hall.
Occupying the former Ram Restaurant & Brewery, shuttered since 2019, the new 11,668-square-foot space features four breweries from District Brew Yards’ Chicago location including Burnt City Brewing, Around the Bend Beer Co., Casa Humilde Cerveceria and Twisted Hippo Brewing, as well as one newcomer, Histrionic Brewlab. Guests receive a card they can use to sample a range of beers from taps on the walls, charged by the ounce with a cashless system. Customers also can indulge in three food concepts from Executive Chef Charlie McKenna including barbeque from Lillie’s Q, fried chicken and fish from Salt & Scratch and Mexican favorites from Chicano Taqueria.
“The District Brew Yards concept has been popular from the start and remained resilient through the pandemic,” said Mike Drew, founding principal of Chicago-based Structured Development. “The novelty of the experience and quality of the food and beverage offerings together have helped us develop a loyal following. Wheeling’s Restaurant Row is the perfect place to launch our expansion, and we’re proud to be revitalizing a space that’s been dark for three years with a fresh addition to this storied drinking and dining district.”
“People love the ability to try different beers while enjoying good food and sharing in the camaraderie of a fun neighborhood restaurant,” said Steve Soble, founder of District Brew Yards. “This beer collective concept also provides a way for more small breweries to get their product in front of more people.”
After being shuttered for more than three years, the Wheeling space was completely renovated and includes a taproom with communal tables, bottle shop and outdoor beer garden that seats more than 100 people. Two commemorative tables are made from Lane 2 of the now-closed Southport Lanes, formerly located at 3325 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood and once owned by Soble. Unlike the Ashland location, District Brew Yards in Wheeling has an “under 21” area to accommodate families.
In its strategic plan for development, the village of Wheeling called for additional investment in Restaurant Row to attract new concepts that will help maintain the corridor as a source of community pride. With a rich culinary history dating back to the 1970s, the area is home to Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Saranello’s, Buca di Beppo, Benihana and Bob Chinn’s Crab House, among other establishments.
Located across from the Westin Chicago North Shore hotel, near the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Milwaukee Avenue, District Brew Yards in Wheeling is accessible via Route 83, Interstate 294 and other major thoroughfares. For more information, visit districtbrewyards.com.
About Structured Development:
Structured Development is a Chicago-based real estate development company formed in January 2002 to pursue unique real estate development opportunities. The company thrives on engaging in complex real estate transactions encompassing a range of property types, including retail, residential, mixed-use and industrial. Whether working with partners or independently, Structured Development strives to unlock and enhance the unseen value of real estate, simultaneously enriching urban and suburban landscapes through sustainable and innovative development practices. For more information, visit www.strdev.com.
