GOOSE ISLAND — Goose Island Beer Co. is closing its longtime Lincoln Park brewpub to open a location at the Salt Shed entertainment district along the Chicago River, just feet away from its namesake island.
Goose Island opened its original brewery at 1800 N. Clybourn Ave. in 1988. It grew to become one of Chicago’s best-known craft beer companies before being sold to mega-brewer Anheuser-Busch in 2011.
Few details about the move have been released, but the brewery plans to take over a building along the Chicago River next to the Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave., which began hosting outdoor concerts this summer.
The move was first reported Friday by Crain’s Chicago Business.
“We are excited that this new location gives us a great opportunity to evolve with Chicago, and is only a short distance from the birthplace and namesake of Goose Island,” Goose Island President Todd Ahsmann said in a statement. “It also connects us with live music and entertainment, which has always been such a defining cultural aspect of Chicago.”
A Goose Island spokesperson said the new brewery is still early in its planning stages and didn’t have a timeline for opening.
But Crain’s reports the company hopes to open at the Salt Shed by the end of 2023, and it will keep the Clybourn location operational as long as possible.
The move comes as the Salt Shed prepares to open its indoor venue space early next year.
The site has been under construction for several years as developers convert the former Morton Salt warehouse into an expansive concert hall. This summer, the Salt Shed hosted about a dozen concerts outside the venue, which sits on west side of the Chicago River’s North Branch.
The first indoor show is Feb. 17, with a performances from Tove Lo and Slayyyter.
The Salt Shed is operated by 16″ On Center, the hospitality group that owns the Empty Bottle, Thalia Hall, the Promontory and other venues and restaurants.
The new brewpub will include a large patio where customers will be able to hear the music during outdoor shows at the venue, according to Crain’s.
In a statement, Goose Island founder John Hall said he was “all in” when the brewery was approached by Salt Shed management about joining the development and the new space gels with into the brewery’s longtime support of live music.
“It really clicked in 1997 when Los Lobos played at the brewery,” Hall said. “That show really kicked off our passion for music, and since then we’ve had 312unes, tons of local musician collaborations, we throw a great block party every year and it’s a natural and exciting fit for us to bring our beer to this incredible performance and community space.”
Goose Island also operates a taproom in the West Loop at 1800 W. Fulton St.