New Mundelein craft beer business gets big grant

An entrepreneur who plans to sell craft beer in downtown Mundelein will get a financial boost from a local grant program.

Greg Bosacki plans to open Bosacki's Home Brew this fall at 610 E. Hawley St., a space in the Fairhaven Medical Supply building.

The village board Monday approved a $15,400 grant for the fledgling business. Bosacki requested the money to help cover the cost of plumbing and electrical work and other improvements.

Bosacki was grateful for the assistance.

"Let's face it -- this is how you get businesses started," said Bosacki, 57, of Wauconda.

He's just the third business owner to receive a grant from the program, which was created to help local entrepreneurs improve commercial properties. He'll get the money after the work is completed.

Under the program, grants cover half the cost of proposed improvements. The grant cap is $25,000.

The program launched last year and initially focused on the village's downtown area -- a wedge-shaped district that's mostly south and east of routes 45 and 176.

But officials awarded only one grant that first year, to a fast-food restaurant called Luke's of Mundelein. Applications now are allowed from any business in the village.

One additional business has received a grant this year.

In June, the village board agreed to give $500 to the owners of the building that houses Best Car Care II, 131 E. Maple Ave. That money was requested to help cover landscape improvements.

Bosacki wants to brew beer for people to take home in growlers or kegs. He envisions some sales for on-site drinking but won't offer food beyond pretzels or popcorn.

"We've got some great microbreweries in our area. But (our) emphasis is on take-home beer," he said.

A former corporate accountant, Bosacki started making his own beer about 15 years ago.

"I could never find that truly good beer," he said. "What I make is about as close as I could get (to perfect) for myself."

Bosacki said he plans to brew various varieties for sale. He has a specialty, however.

"My interest really is in wheat variety beers," he said. "That's more of the traditional German and Bavarian beers."

During a public discussion at Monday night's village board meeting, Trustee Kerston Russell noted Bosacki hadn't yet opened his business and asked about his commitment to starting the operation.

Russell seemed happy with Bosacki's responses and voted to award the grant.

"I always love seeing another person stick their neck into the noose of entrepreneurialism," Russell said.

For more about Mundelein's business grant program, call the community development department at (847) 949-3282.