Cheers to the Future: Near West Side Lands $3.7M Brewery Grant — Plus a Bold New Cocktail Concept Pours Into Fulton Market

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Near West Side · June 25, 2026

Near West Side neighbors, raise a glass — because your community just scored a major win for its homegrown food-and-drink scene. Funkytown, a beloved local brand, has been awarded a $3.7 million grant from the City of Chicago to build a brand-new brewery and tap room right here on the Near West Side. It's a game-changing investment in neighborhood culture, local entrepreneurship, and the kind of gathering space that turns a block into a community. Keep an eye out for updates as construction plans take shape — this one is going to be worth the wait.

Meanwhile, Fulton Market's drink scene is already making moves right now. Froth Coffee has just opened Bar None, one of Chicago's first THC cocktail lounges, bringing an entirely new category of social drinking to your neighborhood streets. It's a daring, first-of-its-kind concept that speaks volumes about Fulton Market's continued willingness to push boundaries and embrace what's next.

From a city-backed brewery grant breathing new life into Near West Side's local economy, to an adventurous new lounge redefining a night out in Fulton Market — your neighborhood is buzzing with entrepreneurial energy this summer. Follow Socialhood for the latest updates on Funkytown's brewery timeline, and swing by Fulton Market to experience Bar None for yourself!

Sources:
1. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/tag/near-west-side/
2. https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/04/14/fulton-market-mendocino-prasino-do-rite-pizza-lobo-labriola