BruceFinkelman:

Bruceisa47yearoldentrepreneur,barandrestaurantowner,realestatedeveloper,trendspotterandmusictalent
scout.HeisoftenapartnerwithCraigGoldeninrestaurantandlivemusicvenueprojects.
BrucespotsunderdevelopedhistoricpropertiesthathecanpurchasewithGoldenandrepurposefortrendsettingand
valuablenewrestaurantandmusichalls.Hehasgenerallyoperatedinundervaluedandunderservedneighborhoods
thatareripetoberevitalized.
BruceisfromWilmette,Illinois.HecurrentlyresidesinOakPark,Illinois.Heearnedadegreeinhotelandrestaurant
managementattheUniversityofMissouriwhileworkingasadoormanataclubcalledtheBlueNote.
Aftercollege,Mr.FinkelmanworkedforHyattHotelsCorp.inChicagowhilehangingoutmanynightsatLincolnPark's
LoungeAx.Hedevelopedapassionforthelocalmusicindustry.
EmptyBottle
HeopenedtheEmptyBottlemusicvenuein1992inUkrainianVillagenearitscurrenthomeat1035N.WesternAve
whichfeaturedlocalandtouringrockbands.Atthetimetheneighborhoodwasstillahighcrimearea.Ithasacapacity
ofonly400peopleandisconsideredatowniesdivebarwithitsgrungyunkemptatmosphere.Yet,in2012theEmpty
bottlewasnamedasoneofRollingStonesessential20topsmallrockclubsinthenation.Thisisbecauseofthetradition
ofbookingessentialhighqualityupandcomingindierock,alternativeandpunkbandsforarelativelybargainpriceof
about$7to$20.Thislowcostnoisydirtyatmosphereappealsmostlytothescruffy20somethingcrowd.Bandswho
haveplayedthereovertheyearsincludetheYEAH,YEAH,YEAHS,theWhiteStripes,FlamingLips,VerucaSalt,Smoking
Popesandmanyothers.
BiteCafe
HealsoopenedBiteCafnextdoorat1039N.WesternAvenuein1995.ThemenuincludessuchthingsasButtermilk
friedchicken,smokedbeefbrisketonfriedplantains,StaquilleONeilbreakfast,HangoverSaladwithRomainelettuce,
baconandpoachedegg,andFridaynightfishfries.
BeautyBar
HeopenedBeautyBarinWestTownin2010itisahairsaloonthatservesmanicuresandmartinisamidstretro
beautyshopdcorinaclubatmosphere.TheyservedrinkssuchasBedheadwithsilvertequilashakenwithpineapple
andlimejuicewhileyoulistentomusicandgetamanicure.Theyalsohostdancepartiesandprivateevents.Thereare
otherlocationsinplaceslikeNewYork,DallasandLasVegas.
CraigGolden:
Isa55yearoldrealestatedeveloper,investor,andpropertyownerwhoisapartnerwithFinkelmaninmanyrestaurant
andmusicclubprojects.GoldenfoundedSterlingBayCompanieswhichspecializesinrehabilitatingandrepurposing
olderattractivebuildingsformodernbusinessuse.
SterlingBayCompanies
Developers,investors,builders
Purchase,renovateunderusedhistoricbuildings
Actaspropertymanager

Whereothersseeemptyspace,weseethenextbigidea.Wetargetoverlookedandundervaluedassetsinemerging
locationsandtransformthemintohighdemandstrategicdestinationstomaximizevalue.Ourtrackrecordofsuccess
provesourapproach.
HeleftSterlingBayCoin2007tofoundBlueStarPropertiesin2008whichalsopurchasesandredevelopsolderhistoric
propertiesformodernuse.
300W.AdamsSt(exampleSterlingBayproperty)
Itisa12story250,000squarefootofficebuildingdesignedbyJensJensenin1927.Purchasedfor$23millionin2007
frombillionairerealestatetycoonSamZell.GettingnamedaChicagolandmarkin2009twoyearsafteritspurchasein
2007helpedraiseitsvaluebecauseasalandmarkitgetsa**lowerpropertytaxrate.*Cost$13milliontorenovate.
Soldfor$51million.Theoreticalprofitof$15million.Occupancyratewentfrom68percentto93percentafter
renovationswhichincreaseditsvalue.
GoldenisalsoownerofthebuildingthathousesSpaceandUnionPizzainEvanston.UnionPizzeriainEvanstonfeatures
anurbanloftfeelutilizingfloortoceilingwindows,exposedwoodrafters,andexposedbrickwalls.
BlueStarProperties:
Foundedin2008byCraigGoldenandpartners.Chicagobasedfullservicecommercialrealestatecompany.
BlueStargivesclassicbuildingsmodernrenovationsinunderdevelopedneighborhoods.Theyhaveapassionfor
redevelopingolderstructurestofitinthemodernworkplaceenvironment.
BlueStarPropertiesisaChicagobasedcommercialrealestatecompanyknownfortheacquisitionandrevitalizationof
urbanretail,office,andmixedusepropertiesinandaroundChicago.Itwasfoundedin2008.[bluestarproperties.net]
BlueStarisafullservicecommercialrealestatecompanyresponsibleforthemanagement,leasing,construction,
designandactivationofitsproperties.Theycreatehighlycustomizedofficeenvironmentswithacontemporary
creativeurbanfeel.
Leasenegotiationsinhouse.Propertymanagementworkswithbuildersandconstructiontocreatetheenvironment.
Workcloselywithpotentialtenantstocreatethecustomizedworkspacetailoredtotheirneeds.BlueStarisalsoa
licensedgeneralcontractoreliminatesthemiddleman.
Hasrenovatedover30majorretail,officeandindustrialpropertiessinceopeningin2008includingThaliaHall.
Exampleis328S.JeffersonSt,Chicago.
Finkelman/GoldmanPartnership
GoldmanboughtLakeshoretheaterin2007andreworkedintoacomedyclubLaughFactory.

S.P.A.C.E.SocietyforthePreservationofArtandCultureinEvanstonin2008

DevelopedbyGolden/FinkelmanrevitalizingLakeshoreneighborhood

PandaPhotoLaughs

LongmanAndEagle

FoundedbyBruceFinkelmanandChefJaredWentowrth
Openedin2010at2657N.KedzieinChicago
RestaurantservesadventurousregionalAmericanfare
Alsoservessourcedandtestedalcoholssuchas300whiskeys
Smallbatchwinesandlargebottled,draftbeerselection
FeaturesadventurousregionalAmericanfare.Theyalsofeatureresearched,sourcedandtestedalcohols
includingaselectionof300whiskeys,largebottledanddraftbeerselection,andsmallbatchwines.ChefJared
Wentworthisafoundingpartneroftherestaurant.

ChefJaredWentworth:
Despitehisloveforthemanyluxury
Emphasizesseasonal,local
productsthatarefeaturedonhis

sustainablefoodproducts
dishes,Wentworthbelievesdining
Farmtotable,nosetotail
shouldbeaffordableandhaveprice
Seeksgloballyinspiredcuisines
pointsthatdrawalargeandvaried
Everchangingcreativemenu
clientele.Seasonalityand
HaswonpraisefromChicagoReader,TimeOutChicago
sustainabilityarefirstandforemostin
HaswonstarinMichelinGuideforfiveyearssince2011
themenumakingprocess,anda
Has12yearsofexecutivechefexperience
profoundsenseofcareandrespect
Hastheappearanceofaturnofcenturybarkeeper
areusedinbriningthebestfarmand
FoodatLongmanandEagle
pastureproductstothetable.[quote
AdventurousAmerican,locallysourced,regional,inseasonfood.Pairedwithbeersandenormouscurated300whiskey
fromlongmanandandeaglewebsite]
selection.
BeautyBar

Finkelmansprojectin2010
Manicures,martinisandmusicatthesametime
Multiplelocations:NY,LasVegas,SanFran,Denver
Privateparties

ThaliaHall
ThaliaHall(1807S.Allport)inPilsenwasbuiltbyJohnDusekin1892tobringtheentertainmentandfoodofCzech
immigrantstoChicago.HemodeledthebuildingafteraPragueoperahouse.Itfeaturedcommercialstorefronts,
residentialhousingandacommunitymeetinghallandtheater.Thebuildingwasclosedinthe1960sandremained
unuseduntilabout2013afteritwasdevelopedbyFinkelmanandGoldenwithBlueStarProperties.Itwasgranted
landmarkstatusin1989duetoitsoriginalandornateconstruction.
In2012FinkelmanandGoldenpurchasedThaliaHallfor$3.2Millionwhileitwasinforeclosure.Grantedlandmark
statusin1989.[crainschicagobusiness.com]Theyrenovatedthebuildingandredevelopeditfeaturingaconcertand
theatervenue,DuseksBoardandBeerrestaurantupstairsandthePunchHousebarinthebasement.Thebuildinghas
spaceforsixgroundlevelbusinesses.TheirpurposewastorestoreThaliaHalltoitsoriginalcharmandcharacterinorder
tobringmusic,community,andartisticeventstotheneighborhooditserves.[thliahallchicago.com]thebuildingalso
housesModernCooperativeareclaimedfurniturestore.
ThaliaHallmusicvenue/DuseksBoardandBeer/PunchHouseinonebuilding:

AtDuseksthebeerlistiscuratedandtiedcloselytothemenu.Duseksoffersdishesthatcanbemadeglutenfree,
veganorvegetarian.Hasbrickwoodburningovens.Beercentricfood.Menuchangesdailybaseduponseasonality.
DraftbeerssampleatDuseks:
#1.GreenKingAbbotAle(Nitro)englishpalealeearthyfruitcake,toffeefugglesburystedmonds,
england

(20oz)6.00
#2.BoulderBeerCo.Shake(Nitro)porterchocolatemilkshakeboulder,co

(13oz)7.00

#3.LocalOptionOutlawgerpilsnerbready,buttermilk,grassychicago,il

(15oz)5.00

#4.OffColorFierceberlinerweisstangy,dry,thinchicago,il

(13oz)5.00

#5.PragaDarkLagerdarklagercaramel,nuts,surprisinglyrefreshingczechrepublic
(15oz)6.00

#6.MoodyTongueCrushedGreenCorianderWitwitbiercitrus,sourdough,foodiechicago,il
(13oz)6.00

#7.EvilTwinJustinBlbrberlinerweissewinebarrel,acrid,crispcopenhagen,denmark
SampleofDuseksfoodmenu:
Lobster,mussels,housegarlicsausage,corn,peeweepotatoes,charredlemon,beerbroth
$29
ButterPoachedAtlanticMonkfish
Squidinkchantrelleraviolo,chartreuseofNapavalleycabbage,mussels,lobstersaffronbroth
$29
JuicyLucy
Slagelfarmsbeef,redonionbaconmarmalade,butterlettuce,heirloomtomato,beeffatfrites
$15
Sausagesandwich
Housegarlicsausage,toastedNewEnglandsplitbun,pickledapple,shavedfennel,mustard
vinaigrette,beeffatfries
$15
Choucroute
duckconfit,porkbelly,housegarlicsausage,confitredpotatoes,sauerkraut,carawaypickled
apple
$28
"TheOrdinary"withbeerpairing
SmokedSirloin
Pommelanna,parsniphorseradishpure,babycarrot,charredBrusselsprouts,maitake
mushrooms,bonemarrowpowder,bordelaise$32

PunchHouse

Sampleitems:
PicnicPunch
BeefeaterGin,Dominicanrum,whitewine,lemon,pineapple
FishHouseJelly,1732/1830'sPhillidelphiafishhousepunch,gelatin,spicedwhip,mint
KyotoPunch
GoodBrandy,Suze,housemade"plumwine,"pinkpeppercorn,lemon
QuoitPunch,Late1700'sJamaicanrum,Goodcognac,Madeira,lemon,sugar,water
MilkPunchGoodcognac,whey,lemon,spices

Promontory
PromontoryinHydeParkwasinspiredbythefirepitcouncilringsatPromontoryPoint.PromontoryPointisamanmade
limestonepeninsulajuttingintoLakeMichigannear55thStinHydeParkneighborhooddecorated.Itwasdesignedwith
fourrowsoflargesteppedlimestoneblocksandafirehearth.Ithasbeenusedasapopularweddingdestination.
Promontoryisarestaurant,livemusicvenueandbarfeaturingamoderntwistonclassiccocktailsinamodern
environmentat5311S.LakeparkAvenearUniversityofChicagoinaformerBordersBooksbuilding.Itopenedin2014.
Itfeaturesa300seatcapacityforlivemusicandwillalsoserveasacommunitycenter.Therestaurantpaystributeto
theneighborhoodwhiletheupstairslivemusicvenuepaystributetothelocalmusiclegacyintheformofjazz.It
celebratestheerawhenChicagossouthsidewasamusiccapitalwithlargeballroomsandjumpingjazzclubs.The
restaurantportionfeaturesahearthtotablethemewithexposedbrickwalls,sofasandleathercubes.

SampleMenuItemsatPromontory:
BRUNSWICKSTEW
roastedduckbroth,coldsearedbreast,confitlegcroquette,limabeans,hominy,greenbeans
$26
HEARTHROASTEDPORCHETTASANDWICH
sunnysideegg,grilledradicchio,fermentedgreengarlicaioli,redonionjam,beeffatfries$15
CO2(RumDrink)
MOMMAD'SCREAMSODA
HousemadeCreamSoda,ChoiceofBananaRumORBrugalDry$10

CurrentandFutureProjects
TheNational
BlueStarpaid$28MilliondollarsfortheformerCommercialNationalbankbuildingat125S.ClarkSt.Commercial
NationalbuildingwasalsotheformerhomeofChicagoPublicSchools.Itwasbuiltin1907byDanielBurnhamarchitects.
BlueStarwillspendupto$30milliontorehabthebuildingandthenandrelaunchthebuildingnamedTheNationalasa
highendofficespacewithloftandmodernspacesincludingarooftopdeck.
Thebuildingwillhavehighceilings,vintagewoodfloors,anopenfloorplan,brickwallsandhighspeedfibernetwork
capabilitiesintendedtoattracttechstartupsandcreativecompanies.[ChicagoCurbed.com]
TheMarketplacefoodcourtisplannedforthegroundflooroftheCommercialNationalBankbuildingat125S.Clark
St.withcasualfoodeateriesusingeclecticlocalfoodvendors.Itwillopenlatethisyear.[Chicago.eater.com]
PopupDining
CapitalizingonthepopularityofundergroundsupperclubsCraigGoldenislisteningtoplansofferedbyentrepreneursto
startapopupdiningrestaurantfeaturingarotatingcalendarofcuttingedgechefs.