There has been a sign on the door of Homewood Brewing for months that said, “Nope. We’re not open yet. Good things take time,” an indication of the community’s anticipation of the event. On Friday, Oct. 18, the “nope” turned to “yep” as the ceremonial ribbon cutting was held and the doors of the restaurant and craft brewery opened to the public.
Before cutting the ribbon, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld alluded to the time it took to bring the project to completion, and he praised co-owner Carmela Wallace for her vision.
“We began this first journey over three years ago when we first met, and we looked for and found a site to meet Carmela’s dreams,” he said. “And here we are today, (to) fulfill those dreams. What a beautiful tribute to your son’s memory. It’s a testimony to a mother’s love for her family and community, and Homewood is thrilled to be a part of that.”
Wallace said she was honored to be able to provide a new place for the community to enjoy at 18225 Dixie Highway.
“It’s been a long journey, but we persevered. We poured our love into this project, and we hope you feel it,” she said.
Wallace was joined by her partners, son Brian Wallace and Robert Lauderdale, to greet guests and talk about the design and purpose of the business, which is dedicated to the memory of her son, the late Jarad Higgins, aka star rapper Juice WRLD.
Higgins died of a drug overdose in 2019 while his popularity in the music world was still rising. He is represented throughout the space in art that he created and inspired. The east wall of the second story terrace is filled with a mural that features his face surrounded by butterflies with a colorful background.
“I think that’s like the cherry on top of everything,” Wallace said. “Everything about this project was intentional and thought out, from the food to the art. It’s just the finishing touches and having something honoring my son. The beautiful mural is just amazing. It makes the project complete.”
The mural was created by Corey Pane, the artist who created a popular mural of Juice WRLD in Chicago’s West Loop that had become a shrine to the rapper’s fans. That mural was painted over in April 2023, although the culprit was never identified.
Higgins was a prolific lyricist, and Wallace selected passages from his songs and other writings to cover a long table that runs perpendicular to the bar just inside the establishment’s south entrance.
Before encountering the table of words, guests are greeted with “Be the Light,” a large mural that dominates the entrance. It’s another favorite for Wallace.
“It just reminds us to be that beacon of hope to someone when they come in, because we are here to serve,” she said. “So it’s just like, be that one that makes someone’s day.”
When she talks about service, Wallace is referring to more than serving meals and beer to patrons. The establishment is linked to a foundation Wallace created, Live Free 999, which is devoted to supporting mental health and substance dependency initiatives.
The foundation announced on Oct. 10 that it was donating $100,000 to nine organizations in honor of World Mental Health Day. Homewood Science Center was one of the recipients.
Wallace said the brewery would have a special benefit beer on tap that will provide a stream of support for the foundation. Ten percent of net sales from the benefit beer will go to the foundation.
“I just wanted to use my resources to impact others,” she said.
The connection between the business and mental health services fits Higgins’ example. Wallace said in an interview with the Chronicle earlier this year that her son was open about his own struggles with drugs and mental health challenges. His many fans were touched and inspired by his honesty, she said.
Music opens the brewery
Higgins, a 2017 graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, was a member for a time in the marching band before his rap career took off. The Viking musicians were on hand to provide a rousing lead-up to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, lining both sides of the south driveway in front of the main entrance.
Band Director Sarah Whitlock said the band started playing more than half an hour before the ceremony.
The percussion section also provided a drum roll during the countdown to the ribbon-cutting, then entertained guests and dignitaries with their rendition of Juice WRLD’s hit “Lucid Dreams.”
After finishing its set, the band gathered around Wallace for a group photo.
The delays
The brewery partners had hoped to open earlier this year. Head Chef Lauderdale said the biggest contributing factor in the delay was supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted, for example, that it took more than six months to get an electrical cabinet.
He and Wallace approached the village in early in 2021 with a proposal to buy the former Vice District Brewery at 18027 Dixie Highway, but he said it turned out the building needed too much work, so they abandoned that idea.
Then village officials pitched the former Bogart’s Charhouse site. The village had acquired the property and in September 2021 demolished the restaurant building, making room for Homewood Brewing to build its own structure.
The building
The brewery design was created by a team led by architect Mike Matthys of the Linden Group.
Matthys said the building has “a sort of an industrial vibe. We wanted a building that was kind of pulled out of the rail yards. We felt that was Homewood,” a village that started and grew around a train station on the Illinois Central line in the mid-19th century.
He said the traditional brick elements of the facade along with exposed steel, especially in the overhang that covers the west side patio, convey the industrial feel. He noted that the artwork inside creates a welcoming feel and balance to the building.
The food and beer
Lauderdale is in charge of overseeing the brewery’s food offerings. He developed a menu inspired by his family’s Creole cooking. The in-house smoker is the heart of the kitchen, according to a news release from the company, infusing homemade sausages, seasonal small plates and hearty entrées with smokiness.
Partner Brian Wallace brings experience and passion for craft beer to the team. At the opening, though, he deferred to his head brewer to explain the brewery’s approach.
Cam Horn said he’s been a professional brewer for 17 years. After shepherding the building of the brewing facility, he said he was glad to go from “project manager to brewer again and finally getting my beer out there in people’s hands.”
He said Homewood Brewing’s equipment is among the most advanced in the Chicago region.
“My background is in traditional German style lagers,” Horn said. One of his favorites is a dark lager. “It’s one of my oldest recipes. This comes from when I was a home brewer. I’ve brewed at every brewery that I’ve been a part of.”
Horn said the system is set up for consistency, so when customers come back for their favorite beer, it was taste the same as they remember it.
Hours
Homewood Brewing is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.