Today we’d like to introduce you to Billy Helmkamp.
10 years ago, on a sleepy stretch of Milwaukee Avenue, partners Rob Brenner and Billy opened The Whistler, the place that ignited the now-booming cocktail and nightlife scene in Logan Square. Now, together with original Whistler bartender Eric Henry, they opened their long-awaited second project: Sleeping Village, an 8,000 square foot indoor/outdoor space at 3734 W. Belmont Avenue in Avondale. The three partners each bring their respective talents to the concept, with Helmkamp running the live music programming, Brenner leading operations and Henry managing the beverage program.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a five-plus year project with all the usual hurdles for a large construction project with high tech audio/video/bar infrastructure: zoning, licensing, financing and technology. But, we did it.
Sleeping Village – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In the same fashion as The Whistler, Sleeping Village will present equal parts bar, live music venue, and gathering place for locals. However, unlike its cocktail-focused counterpart, Sleeping Village will instead focus on its 56 draft lines, highlighting a rotating assortment of beers and one of the largest selections of draft ciders in the city.
“Despite making cocktails for the past decade, all three of us love beer and cider,” says Helmkamp, “so when we started concepting this place, we knew first-and-foremost we wanted to make Sleeping Village a world-class beer destination.”
In addition to the bar and a sizable patio, Sleeping Village will feature one of the best-sounding live music venues in the city, holding up to 300 people. The state-of-the-art sound system and acoustical design were overseen by Brenner’s wife, Erin Funk Brenner, former Production and Performance Hall Manager at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts. Guests can look forward to a variety of ticketed and free shows— not only featuring Chicago musicians but also national and international talents.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3734 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618 - Website: http://sleeping-village.com
- Email: info@sleeping-village.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sl33pingvillag3/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepingvillagechicago/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sl33pingVillag3
- Other: https://untappd.com/v/sleeping-village/7318788
Image Credit:
Chris Dilts
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