Black-Owned Brewery Supports Legislation That Would Help Business Grow

Rich Bloomfield, Greg Williams and Zack Day founded Funkytown Brewery in 2021. Photo provided by Tassi Communications.
Rich Bloomfield, Greg Williams and Zack Day founded Funkytown Brewery in 2021. Photo provided by Tassi Communications.

Black-Owned Brewery Supports Legislation That Would Help Business Grow

By Tia Carol Jones

Rich Bloomfield, Greg Williams and Zack Day founded Funkytown Brewery in 2021. Bloomfield, Williams and Day have known each other since junior high school. They also attended high school and Grambling State University together.

During a time when craft breweries were popping up throughout the city, the trio noticed they were some of the only Black people showing up to the events. They realized there was an untapped market for a Black-owned craft brewery in Chicago and they wanted to get more diverse communities involved.

Funkytown Brewery is based in Logan Square and focuses on beers that are palatable, with low bitterness and low astringency. Their goal with their beer is to focus on underserved palates and creating a dynamic space where newcomers and craft beer lovers can enjoy beer. Bloomfield said because of the vision and focus, Funkytown Brewery has grown significantly since it was founded in 2021.

Bloomfield and his co-founders at Funkytown Brewery are hoping that legislation will make it easier for them and other underrepresented breweries to start and grow their businesses. HB2556 and SB1622 seek to Amend the Liquor Control Act of 1934 and increase the self-distribution limit for class 3 brewers. The legislation also “provides that a special event retailer's license (not-for-profit) shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale, at retail, alcoholic liquors for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license (instead of for use or consumption)” and “provides that a retail licensee or manufacturer with retail privileges may operate a loyalty program, reward program, or mug club for alcoholic liquors the retailer or manufacturer with retail privileges is licensed to sell.”

Bloomfield said that the legislation would allow them to grow more sustainably. He said that there is a gap between small, nanobreweries and large breweries that work with distributors. He said having mug clubs or having the ability to donate to non-profits are ways smaller breweries use to grow their businesses, but under current legislation they aren’t able to do because of restrictions. He said that he hopes the bill goes through so that small breweries and the local beer industry can grow and sustain their operations and continue to work with each other.

“Small breweries are some of the most community facing operations out there, when it comes to the values that we espouse, the non-profits that we serve, when it comes to the events that we put on and how you expect your business to reflect the local community,” he said and added that this legislation continues to enable these businesses to be third spaces for people.

Bloomfield said that he has been communicating with local elected officials about the legislation. Members from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the Conference of Women Legislators had a conversation with different brewery owners about the real-life implications of the bill.

Outside of the legislation, Funkytown Brewery is raising funds to open a taproom near the United Center. As they’ve grown, they realize to continue growing, they need to include the hospitality aspect, which having a taproom would do by significantly growing their revenue and distribution presence.

For more information about Funkytown Brewery, visit www.funkytownbeer.com


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