Live Music & Local Brews: Near West Side Scores Big With a New Music Hall Permit & a $3.7M Brewery Grant

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Near West Side · July 31, 2026

Near West Side neighbors, your community just landed two pieces of seriously exciting news this week — and together, they paint a vivid picture of a neighborhood that keeps raising the bar on culture, entertainment, and local flavor.

First, construction is officially moving forward on what promises to be one of the most talked-about venues in Chicago: a foundation permit has been issued for a brand-new 6,000-seat music hall at The 1901 Project, the massive $500 million mixed-use redevelopment anchored right here in the Near West Side. The music hall is part of the ambitious first phase of The 1901 Project, which is poised to reshape the entertainment landscape around the United Center corridor for decades to come. With a foundation permit now in hand, shovels are getting ready to go deeper — and that means live music at a world-class scale is one step closer to your doorstep.

And if that's not enough reason to celebrate, Funkytown has been awarded a $3.7 million grant from the City of Chicago — funding that will go directly toward creating a brand-new brewery and taproom on the Near West Side. That's a major investment in local entrepreneurship, neighborhood culture, and the kind of homegrown gathering spot that makes a community truly feel like home. From a future concert hall to a craft brewery in the making, the Near West Side is building something special — follow Socialhood for all the latest updates as these projects come to life!

Sources:
1. https://chicago.urbanize.city/
2. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/tag/near-west-side/