Enoteca, and Mitchell’s Soda Shop, which is an old Chicago south side ice cream shop located in Homewood, IL, which they bought and redeveloped. Mitchell’s is a super-premium high quality product and can now be found in grocery stores like Whole Foods.
The Bravo Restaurant Group has sustained success by keeping their business relatively small, especially during the recession. “Being a family owned business allows everyone to be on the same page when making tough decisions” said Jordan Himmel. They felt the best way to move forward into the future was through product innovation, which would set them apart from everyone else. Gino’s is not only focused on product, but providing exceptional service, while serving their delicious deep dish pizza that was developed in the 1960’s. Jordan’s grandfather is turning 90 years old this year and still shows up to work every day. His father is the President/CEO, and his oldest brother Noah is the Vice President of the company. Himmel thinks what sets Gino’s East Brewing Company apart from the competition is the exceptional amount of experience of their Brew Master Kevin McMahon. McMahon worked at Abita Brewing Company in New Orleans for five years and made a lot of progress with their craft beer movement. Abita has a great reputation and a great name because of its longevity in the business. He also worked at Two Brothers Brewing just outside of Chicago, which has been exploding over the past few years as a brew company. McMahon is a traditionalist, as it relates to beer making, and understands what their product is about. “Gino’s is not trying to make a strawberry chocolate beer. We’re taking our basics and just fine tuning them and making them perfect. We’re trying to make competition winning beer,” Himmel says.
Gino’s Brewing Company is perfect for anyone who lives in the downtown or River North area. They are aggressively priced below their market for that neighborhood. They expect their customers to have a nice homey feel when they walk into the restaurant. The space at 500 N. Lasalle is an historical landmark and has a lot of memories attached because it once housed Michael Jordan’s restaurant. However, prior to MJ’s place, it was the trolley car pull station for the City of Chicago. The building was originally built in the 1890’s and literally housed cables that would pull trolley cars into downtown Chicago.
The trolley cars were responsible for moving tens of thousands of people every day. Himmel and his family thought it was important to do justice to the space’s heritage and showcase Chicago and its history, which is why they opened up the ceilings and exposed the brick within the restaurant.