Our Coffee Chat Series recently made its debut in Chicago’s vibrant South Loop, a neighborhood defined by its boundaries from Van Buren Street to the Stevenson Expressway and from the river to the lake, as described by Jim Wells, the president of South Loop Neighbors.

Our journey began at Overflow Coffee, a unique establishment blending a craft coffee shop with a high-level coworking space. Founded by Brian Jenkins, this venue operates under the umbrella of his nonprofit, Entrenuity, which offers support to entrepreneurs, especially those from Black and Brown communities, with mentorship and round-the-clock access to its coworking area, Mox.E.

Chicago’s ‘front yard’ and hidden gems

Once considered an extension of downtown, the South Loop has seen remarkable growth. It also boasts Grant Park, Chicago’s “front yard,” as Wells puts it, which hosts prominent events like Lollapalooza, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Beyond the bustling events, the neighborhood offers serene enclaves waiting to be explored, including a charming residential area that’s become a hidden treasure. Wells mentions Dearborn Park as a prime example of such a place, saying, “Unless you live there, you don’t know that it’s there.”

Looking forward, Wells is optimistic about the neighborhood’s trajectory, foreseeing it becoming a “thriving commercial hub” due to ongoing developments. He emphasizes, “It already is a wonderful place to live. It’ll be even better.”

Building Chicago’s 78th neighborhood

Bailey emphasized that their plans for the mixed-use development have always been ambitious: “We always thought of ‘The 78’ as a neighborhood… There are 77 neighborhoods in Chicago, and we’re going to build ‘The 78th’.”

The Chicago Fire Stadium is intended to be the “anchor, a driver,” for the site, creating an “enormous increase in business activity and tourism.” The plans include river activation, with boats bringing spectators to the site, making the sporting events more experiential.

Bailey confirmed that the team has had “dozens, if not 100 meetings with almost every single group” to ensure community concerns are addressed.