Last week Scott Struchen gave an update about happenings at the Tangled Roots Brewery and The Lone Buffalo. He said that the Lone Buffalo is growing and that they recently hired a new chef, who used to be the chef for the Uptown Bar and Grill in LaSalle. The Tangled Roots side is hiring two new Beer Ambassadors. They currently have anywhere between 98-108 employees.
He said that he is most often asked about their plans for the old Carson Pirie Scott building. The lower floors will be open for retail, while the upper floors will house something akin to a Civic Center. There will be an area that will be able to seat 350-450 that can be used for special events. It will house another restaurant. There will also be a greenhouse on top that will be used for aquaponics, where they will be able to grow vegetables and other plants which will be used in the Restaurants. There will also be an area that will overlook Washington Park where people can gather.
He told the Ottawa Rotarians that Tangled Roots Beer is the fastest growing seller of beers in Illinois, and one of the fast growing nation-wide.