CHICAGO — Our latest Coffee Chat Series made its debut in Chicago’s South Loop, a dynamic neighborhood described by Jim Wells, president of the South Loop Neighbors, as stretching from “Van Buren to the Stevenson, the river, to the lake.”

The series kicked off at Overflow Coffee, a unique spot that combines a craft coffee experience with an advanced coworking environment. This venture was initiated by Brian Jenkins and is part of his nonprofit, Entrenuity. The establishment is designed to empower entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on supporting “Black and Brown entrepreneurs” by offering mentorship and 24-hour access to the coworking facility called Mox.E.

Chicago’s ‘front yard’ and hidden gems

The South Loop, an extension of downtown Chicago, has witnessed significant growth. It is renowned for Grant Park, which Jim Wells refers to as the city’s “front yard.” This iconic park hosts major events including Lollapalooza, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Away from the bustling events, the neighborhood offers serene “quiet little pockets,” featuring a beautiful residential area that has evolved into a hidden treasure. Wells highlights Dearborn Park as a secluded area that remains largely undiscovered by those not residing there, saying, “Unless you live there, you don’t know that it’s there.”

Looking towards the future, Wells is enthusiastic about the neighborhood’s continued development, envisioning a “thriving commercial hub.” He believes that while it is already a fantastic place to reside, it promises to become even more appealing.

Building Chicago’s 78th neighborhood

The South Loop’s most transformative project on the horizon is “The 78” megadevelopment and the soon-to-be-built Chicago Fire Stadium. Tanja sat down with Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest, the company leading the charge.

Bailey explained that the goal for the mixed-use development has always been clear: “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.

On the timeline, Related Midwest is “looking to be under construction in the first quarter of 2026,” with a goal to see “soccer happening in 2028 in the stadium.” Bailey is confident this development will attract major events, asserting, “this is going to be the place that people go when they’re into football or soccer,” and ultimately calling the project “another way for us to make Chicago the greatest city in America.”