Breakroom Brewery Closing?

Yes. Finch's is taking it over.

 

Breakroom was the most beautiful and promising new brewery. Ultimately though, a complete failure and major let down. When many of the Breakroom International club members joined, it was when Mike (now of Mikerphone) was brewing. Shortly before the opening of the brewpub, he left. The beers brewed since his leaving have been nothing like the amazing previews and tap takeovers that encouraged many to join. That was the first disappointment, but of course Mike did what he felt he had to do and is doing a great job on his own.

Here is what $270 should have got the club members:


Being a part of BREAKROOM INTERNATIONAL gets you the following:

• Invitation to annual BreakRoom International private party for members only plus guest (this event will feature beers made only for the party)
• Full complimentary Mug Club Membership for first 3 years which includes:
  • Brewer's Best - Receive a mug filled with one of our newly released seasonal beers. Our Head Brewer will pick the beer each month.
  • Reward Points - Earn points each time you visit BreakRoom Brewery. Earn 1 (one) point for every dollar spent. Reach 250 points and you will receive a $25 gift card good on future purchases.
  • Members Only Glass - Show your membership off by drinking from a special BreakRoom Mug Club beer glass (glass kept in-house). Not only is it unique to members, it is also 4 ounces bigger, meaning more great beer for you.
  • Member Discount - Receive 20% of all BreakRoom Brewery merchandise.
  • Birthday Burger - Choose one of our awesome burgers on us 1 (one) time during the month of your birthday. You will receive an email with a coupon for your free birthday burger.
  • First Access - Receive invite to special beer releases and events at the brewpub.
• An exclusive BreakRoom International member card
• A stainless steel growler with BreakRoom International logo
  • The first growler fill is on us
  • Every 10th growler purchased is on us
• Special beer glass with BreakRoom International logo on it
• T-shirt with BreakRoom International logo on it
• A keychain and a "key" to the truck (key does not actually work)

There was an opening party. Breakroom however failed to notify a great many people in the club of the party and many missed out on it. This was the only private or special event thrown for the members. A private Facebook group was started and then basically ignored by the moderators. The last post before the notification that the brewery was closing was in mid December of last year. Emails have been sporadic and useless for club members, just mentioning some new beer on tap.
If you went in during the month of your birthday and asked about your free member birthday burger, no one knew what you were talking about.
If you inquired about the key chain with a key to the truck, no one knew what you were talking about.

Breakroom treated its club like it didn't exist and the sentiment is widespread among the members. It has been in existence almost exactly 1 year of the promised 3 years. When we were told of the closing it was super vague, not even mentioning who was taking over (Finch) or what would happen to the club.

The beer was mediocre, and the brewers/owners couldn't even be bothered to care about the members who put good money to help get the brewery going. It was a joke of a brewery that had all the signs of failure. I feel terrible for anyone that invested in it, because it was for most people a complete waste. The whole thing obviously leaves a bad taste in my mouth, as breweries that treat their closest and most valued customers like this disgust me.

Good riddance I say. Even Finch can do a better job with that space.

 

Sounds like a dumpster fire from the start. Assuming the above is true, sounds like they just fleeced people until it was time to bail and run off with the proceeds from the sale.

 

Thanks for this. As an occasional patron, the place was nearly empty every time I went. I thought the food was great, but the beers were average. To anyone that didn't know of Mike or his involvement, would have suspected this place was built, and then they were going to see what happened. It sucks that it failed, for the business statistic of it all. Finch's will do better, because they have the money and marketing to make it work.

Out of curiosity, what did you get for $270?

 

A T-shirt, a stainless steel growler, a membership card, invite to the opening party (actually I heard about the party but didn't get the invite so I just showed up), and a larger member glass for any beer I ordered (a few free ounces of beer each time).

I also got invited to the useless private Facebook group and emails informing us of upcoming taps on rare occasions.

 

This is a case of more attention being given to the space than to the product. Beautiful space. Yes, there is a craft beer boom and sure, it looks like anyone with some money can jump in and profit, but if the product doesn't stand out in a sea of options...survival of the tastiest.

 

They had some pretty OK beers. I think they lacked quite a bit in the social media department, especially when you compare them to Chicago powerhouses like Half Acre and Pipeworks.

I don't think they were brewing too much beer though. One time I went because I saw they released a beer a couple days back, but when I got there it was out. I can't remember but it was an IPA. Fine I showed up late and therefore there was a chance they would be out. I asked if they could recommend any other IPAs or Hoppy beers and they recommended me to try a Surly Furious. How do you not keep something hoppy on?!

Anyways, sad to see them go but love to watch them make room for Finch

 

The beginning of the end is beginning...

 

Sounds like you got ass ***** on that $270

 

Unfortunate news. Looking to move closer to the Albany Park area and was happy to have a decent brewpub close. Was unusually quiet the few times I stopped by. Feel worse for the club members though.

 

I thought Finch's was building on the river, then I heard they were moving to Long Grove. What's the deal?

 

Anyone know if they are doing a last minute sale of all their beers and merch for a heavy discount and a goodbye thank you?

 

As a former employee of Finch's. All I can say is good riddance to the owner, and I am glad the investors took his company away from him. I do wish them luck in figuring out how to right two places that were mismanaged from day one because the main place they took over has a lot of bad blood to work out.

 

That river plan was scrapped a while back.

 

Is this.....public knowledge? I haven't drank Finch's in years because they were assholes to some friends of mine on social media and I kept hearing bad things about the ownership.

 

As far as I can tell they don't actually sell beer in Illinois...if they do, we don't drink it.

 

I can't tell if this is sarcasm. +1 if yes. -1 if no.

 

Forgot to use the sarcasm font...

 

There is a Finch's sign on a building in Long Grove area. Randomly drove by it recently.