WRIGLEYVILLE — A local beer garden plans to reopen its doors by the end of the month under new owners — and with a focus on local craft beer.
Black Sheep Beer Garden, a tavern at 3441 N. Sheffield Ave. formerly known as The Yard, shuttered nearly six months ago. The new owners want to make use of the beer garden space and emphasize local craft beer and local food, said Sean Conroy, one of the investors, at last week's Triangle Neighbors meeting.
Former Goose Island Wrigleyville chef Mike Artel will be developing the menu, said Pat Doerr, Conroy's partner. The name Black Sheep Beer Garden will stay until later this summer, when the team will unveil a new name and full new menu, Doerr said.
Conroy, an accountant by training, wants the space to be a neighborhood hang-out where locals and visiting Cubs fans can drink Chicago craft beers and eat locally sourced food, he said.
"There’s all sorts of great breweries, and you can’t really find that in Wrigleyville," Conroy said. "You find corporate-owned bars and high churned beers."
"The weather’s getting nice, so we’re hoping to [open] really soon," he said.