LOGAN SQUARE -- Local beer lovers will have more room to relax and eat come spring with Maplewood Brewery's expansion.
The brewery and distillery at the eastern corner of the neighborhood is expanding after a catering company moved out of the building last year, co-owner Paul Megalis said.
The brewery has taken over the remaining 3,000 square feet of the building at 2717 N. Maplewood Ave. and is using it to build out a new lounge, increase its taproom, add draft lines and have more storage space.
The expansion also means the brewery will bring back its food menu and have its own kitchen, Megalis said. The brewery used to share the kitchen belonging to the catering company but once its business grew, Maplewood lost kitchen access.
The kitchen is now theirs, which has allowed the team to hire a chef who will bring back menu classics and add new items for customers, Megalis said. The updated menu is still being finalized, as is the kitchen.
"Adding a food option to this neighborhood is more and more expected, especially with breweries," Megalis said. "Hopefully it will keep people here longer."
Revolution's Logan Square brewpub closed last year after almost 15 years, citing low food sales that were not as profitable as its taproom and wholesale production facility in Avondale, owners previously told Block Club.
Maplewood owners see the expansion as some good news for the local beer scene after recent brewery closures, Megalis said.
Maplewood's extra space will also make it possible for its owners to host private events, a common request they were reluctant to approve previously because they would have had to close the entire lounge. The new room will be able to host around 100 people and will be separated by a sliding door, he said.
A garage door has also been added to improve the patio experience for warmer months.
"We were able to make enhancements like a longer bar, more draft lines, more cooler space behind the bar and more prep space," he said. "Our cocktail program will only get better now."
Construction on the expansion began late last year and should wrap up in the next few months. The lounge is open and the new room and kitchen will open in the spring, but there is no exact date yet, Megalis said.
The "Brewer's Triangle" area, which encompasses Maplewood and formerly Metropolitan and Ravinia, is seeing a revival of sorts. While the latter two have closed, Ravinia rebranded as Steep Ravine Brewing and is teaming up with Moor's Brewing to reopen its Logan Square taproom as a new concept operated by both breweries called Diversey House. The sports bar, taproom and restaurant will also have a new food menu and will be the neighborhood's first Black-owned taproom. It is set to open Feb. 5.