South Loop's Game Changer: Inside 'The 78', Chicago Fire Stadium
Tanja Babich gets the "tea" on the South Loop at Overflow Coffee
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Our new Coffee Chat Series launched in Chicago's South Loop, a neighborhood stretching from "Van Buren to the Stevenson, the river, to the lake," according to Jim Wales, president of the South Loop Neighbors.
We started at Overflow Coffee-a "craft coffee shop with an enterprise level coworking space," founded by Brian Jenkins. Housed inside his nonprofit Entrenuity, the space supports entrepreneurs, particularly "Black and Brown entrepreneurs," providing coaching and 24-hour access to its coworking space, Mox.E.
Chicago's 'front yard' and hidden gems
An extension of downtown, the South Loop has grown exponentially. It's also home to what Wales calls the city's "front yard," Grant Park, which hosts major events like Lollapalooza, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
But beyond the crowds, there are "quiet little pockets" to discover, including a stunning residential area that has "turned into a gem." Wales notes that the limited-access area of Dearborn Park is one such place where, "Unless you live there, you don't know that it's there."
Looking ahead, Wales is optimistic about the future evolution of the neighborhood, predicting a "thriving commercial hub" thanks to ongoing development, stating, "It already is a wonderful place to live. It'll be even better."
Building Chicago's 78th neighborhood
The South Loop's most transformative project on the horizon is "The 78" megadevelopment and the soon-to-be-built Chicago Fire Stadium. Tanja sat down with Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest, the company leading the charge.
Bailey explained that the goal for the mixed-use development has always been clear: "We always thought of 'The 78' as a neighborhood... There are 77 neighborhoods in Chicago and we're going to build 'The 78th'."
The Chicago Fire Stadium is intended to be the "anchor, a driver," for the site, creating an "enormous increase in business activity and tourism." The plans include river activation, with boats bringing spectators to the site, making the sporting events more experiential.
Bailey confirmed that the team has had "dozens, if not 100 meetings with almost every single group" to ensure community concerns are addressed.
On the timeline, Related Midwest is "looking to be under construction in the first quarter of 2026," with a goal to see "soccer happening in 2028 in the stadium." Bailey is confident this development will attract major events, asserting, "this is going to be the place that people go when they're into football or soccer," and ultimately calling the project "another way for us to make Chicago the greatest city in America."
