Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Swain.
Jonathan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my career in Chicago City Government working for local elected officials and the mayor. I was trained as a lawyer but always enjoyed work connected to my community. After a brief stop working for a startup community development nonprofit, I decided to join the family business which ultimately leads to the creation of the Hyde Park Brew Fest.
My family has owned Kimbark Liquors/Kimbark Beverage Shoppe since 1974. I joined the business because I wanted to learn how to run business first hand and there was no better place. Plus, creating job opportunities for community members and those who needed second chances always enticed me.
When I took over in 2008, craft beer was becoming all the rage. To increase business, I developed beer tasting events that began in store but then grew as additions to local community festivals. In 2014, I decided to, instead of tacking on other festivals, to develop our own event. That became the Hyde Park Brew Fest. That first fest that started with 500 attendees in one day, has grown to over 20,000 attendees of two days in 4 years.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
OBSTACLES: The road has been littered with a lot of lessons.
Our first year we held the event in October and it turned out to be the coldest October 4th in Chicago History. So we knew a summer date would probably be much smarter. Our third year we had to move the event due to community concerns, which meant many of the templates we built had to be completely redone.
As the event grew, we needed to build a team to run the event. Events of this type can’t be done by one or two people. It takes a team of dedicated people to reach the finish line. Then, of course, there also is the economic side of the business. The event was not profitable in the initial years and we had to guarantee those losses. Continuing the event every year requires satisfying all obligations whether the event made money or not.
This doesn’t include the everyday operational lessons that you don’t learn until the event is in process. Thankfully I have a mentor in the business who I’ve been able to shadow and learn from.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hyde Park Brew Fest – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Hyde Park Brew Fest is the most diverse craft beer fest in Chicago. We use the event to connect the south side community to the expansive world of craft beer. While some fests focus on the most popular and traditional beer styles, we focus on bringing different and more approachable beers a wider variety of consumers will enjoy.
The Hyde Park Brew Fest is not only a beer sampling, but it is also a street fest with craft vendors, other drink options, great food options and incredible music. Unlike most fests that focus on bands, we have developed a reputation for bringing some of the best DJs in Chicago and around the world to Hyde Park. The fest is wrapped in the sounds of hip-hop and house music from open to close.
Probably the best element of the Hyde Park Brew Fest is the neighborhood itself. Hyde Park is a historic and diverse community that has recently experienced a renaissance. New restaurants, new hotel, and new business are the backdrop for this fest.
It’s this combination of elements I am most proud of. The Hyde Park Brew Fest reflects the spirit of its namesake neighborhood, open, inclusive, welcoming and fun.
Pricing:
- FREE festival $40 for 20 beer/cider sampling tickets or $25 for 10 tasting tickets
Contact Info:
- Address: 53rd and Harper-Harper Court Chicago, Illinois
- Website: http://hpbrewfest.com
- Email: elana@mywhyagency.com
- Instagram: @hpbrewfest
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/hpbrewfest/about/?ref=page_internal
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
