Founded in a city known for its craft beer, cold weather, and warm community, Lake Effect Brewing Company is opening up its first taproom in Chicago! This family-owned brewery takes pride in its attention to detail, customization for customers, and award-winning brews, and are ready to take their business to the next level in opening up a taproom in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago.
To fund this growth, Lake Effect Brewing Company launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit, and 131 investors contributed over $114,000 to their new taproom. Read on to learn more about Lake Effect Brewing Company’s story and how they were able to run a successful investment offering with Honeycomb.
A unique approach to craft beer in a family-owned business
First and foremost, Lake Effect Brewing Company is a family-owned business. Husband and wife duo Clint and Ayse began the company in their garage in Jefferson Park as a way for Clint to grow in his passion for homebrewing.
Out of necessity due to the pandemic, Lake Effect Brewing Company survived by creating a thriving e-commerce business which allowed their customers to safely access their favorite brews, and soon they were stocking shelves in local beverage distributors such as Binny’s Beverage Depot and Whole Foods.
One unique thing that Lake Effect Brewing Company does is that they provide custom brews for special customers, such as Morton Arboretum and the Irish American Heritage Center, as well as other local bars and restaurants. This has allowed them to show their unique flair and expertise in brewing while also getting their beers out there to even more customers.
Although Lake Effect Brewing Company now has a thriving bottle shop where customers can come in, get some face-to-face interaction, and walk away with a few brewskis, Clint and Ayse wanted even more opportunities for the business to connect with their neighborhood and decided it was time to open their first taproom.
The goal with the new taproom is for Lake Effect Brewing Company to become a beloved neighborhood hub, offering a meticulously crafted space where locals and visitors alike can gather and unwind. Clint and Ayse want the taproom to become a “Third Place” in their neighborhood where diverse groups of people can come and connect over a beer.
In order to make this dream a reality, the team at Lake Effect Brewing Company was going to need some funding for construction costs in building out the new retail space. They decided to reach out to the community who have supported them for so long and allow them to become investors and launched an equity crowdfunding campaign with Honeycomb Credit.
This investment offering was a resounding success, raising $114,650 for the opening of the new taproom!
Investors toast to the success of Lake Effect Brewing Company
Members of the community from across Chicago (and the country) were excited to invest in Lake Effect Brewing Company’s new taproom.
Investor David Heiberger commented, “I've enjoyed your beer for years. Happy to contribute to your success.”
Others were excited about the prospect of a new neighborhood brewery, “Welcome to the neighborhood! Excited to be able to play a small part in your success!” said Spencer Hockeborn.
Another investor, Emily Deis, said, “I live in the neighborhood and am excited to support and invest in our community. We were also very fortunate to have Lake Effect's beer served at our wedding!”
Lake Effect Brewing Company’s new taproom is still in progress, with a hopeful opening date in early 2025. We’re excited to see it open and lift a glass to their continued success, along with their investors!
Realize your business’s dreams with your community at your side
Lake Effect Brewing Company has grown their business ever since their founding in 2011, and now they’re achieving a longtime dream of having their own taproom, thanks to their investors on Honeycomb Credit! Learn more about the different kinds of investment offerings that local businesses can utilize to grow - fill out the form below!
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