Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
SomosMonos Cerveceria secures food service license for Back of the Yards taproom

SomosMonos Cerveceria secures food service license for Back of the Yards taproom

New Capabilities Chicago, IL local

Latino-owned brewery's dining permit is the latest step on a decade-long path to a neighborhood taproom at The Plant

September 22nd, 2026: Retail food establishment license issued

Overview

Updated Sep 23

A home-brewing hobby that started with Victor Santoyo's kettle in a Back of the Yards kitchen has cleared another hurdle. SomosMonos Cerveceria now holds a Chicago retail food establishment license for its space at The Plant, the old meatpacking complex at 1400 W. 46th St., issued September 22, 2026.

The permit covers food preparation and dining on the premises. It is one approval among several, not a final green light. But it pushes forward a plan the three founders began in 2019, watched stall through the pandemic and a city program's leadership change, then revived through a partnership with Whiner Beer Co.

Why it matters

A Latino-owned brewery that started in a home kitchen is closer to running its own food-service taproom in a Chicago neighborhood that has few of them.

Last Monday's email for Chicago, IL

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

1
Retail food establishment license issued
Chicago permit for food preparation and dining at 1400 W. 46th St., issued September 22, 2026.
7
Years from planning to license
Founders began scouting locations in 2019; hurdles included the pandemic and city program delays.
9
Beers listed on BeerAdvocate
Styles include Chica Fresa strawberry blonde ale and Morenaza stout, named for songs the founders grew up with.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

VS
Victor Santoyo
Founder and owner, SomosMonos Cerveceria
Leading brewery operations at The Plant
RS
Rocio Santoyo
Co-founder, SomosMonos Cerveceria
Managing the business alongside co-founders
RL
Rene Lemus
Co-founder, SomosMonos Cerveceria
Partner in brewery operations

Organizations Involved

SomosMonos Cerveceria
SomosMonos Cerveceria
Craft Brewery
Licensed for food service at The Plant, operating in shared taproom

Latino-owned craft brewery founded by three Back of the Yards residents.
Whiner Beer Co.
Whiner Beer Co.
Craft Brewery
Partner sharing The Jungle taproom at The Plant

Chicago brewery that proposed merging operations with Somos Monos at its Back of the Yards site.
The Plant
The Plant
Food business incubator
Host site for Somos Monos and Whiner Beer Co.

Former meatpacking facility at 1400 W. 46th St. turned sustainable business incubator.

Timeline

January 2019 September 2026

7 events Latest: September 22nd, 2026 · 2 months ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Retail food establishment license issued

    Latest Regulatory

    Chicago issues SomosMonos Cerveceria a license for food preparation and dining on the premises.

  2. The Jungle taproom opens at The Plant

    Opening

    Shared taproom with Whiner Beer Co. opens at 1400 W. 46th St., bringing Somos Monos beers to the neighborhood.

  3. Launches first beer at Whiner

    Milestone

    Somos Monos releases a beer at Whiner Beer Co., its first step in the shared space.

  4. Whiner Beer Co. proposes partnership

    Pivot

    Whiner's owner suggests the two breweries share its site at The Plant after United Yards delays.

  5. Joins United Yards development project

    Planned Move

    Somos Monos announces plans to open on West 47th Street under Invest South/West.

  6. COVID-19 pandemic derails plans

    Setback

    The pandemic stalls early efforts to open a brick-and-mortar brewery.

  7. Founders begin scouting locations

    Planning

    Victor and Rocio Santoyo and Rene Lemus start looking for a brewery site.

Scenarios

1

Somos Monos opens its food-service dining operation at The Plant

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago; founders' own statements about expanding the taproom

The license lets Somos Monos prepare and serve food with seating. If the founders move ahead, the brewery could add a kitchen menu to The Jungle, drawing more evening and weekend customers. Founder Victor Santoyo has also spoken about hosting artists in the space, which a fuller food-service operation would support.

2

Dining launch stalls; taproom keeps operating as-is

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Local business observers; pattern of small-brewery delays

The license is only one approval. Somos Monos may hold off on building out a kitchen or face other permitting or staffing hurdles, leaving The Jungle as a beer-and-cocktails taproom with Whiner. The brewery would keep selling retail beer without a full dining menu.

3

Somos Monos expands retail distribution across Chicago

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago, reporting founders' stated goal

Rocio Santoyo has said the brewery wants to put its signature beers in liquor stores, retail shops, and other bars across the city. With taproom operations steady, the founders could shift focus to distribution, growing the brand beyond Back of the Yards.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2024

Casa Humilde Cervecería permanent home (2024)

Jose Lopez, who started brewing in 2015, opened a permanent home for Casa Humilde Cervecería in Forest Park, west of Chicago. The space includes a restaurant, bar, patio, and brewery, with beers like Viva la Frida made from hibiscus and lime.

Then

The brewery gained a stable base and began drawing Latino customers who typically stuck to macrobreweries.

Now

It became a reference point for Latino-owned craft brewing in the Chicago area, alongside Somos Monos.

Why this matters now

Both breweries blend Mexican ingredients and culture into craft beer and built permanent homes after years of home-brewing, showing a small regional wave.

2019–present

Invest South/West program (2019–present)

Chicago launched Invest South/West to steer development into South and West Side neighborhoods. Somos Monos joined the United Yards project under it in 2023, planning a brewery on West 47th Street.

Then

After Mayor Lori Lightfoot left office, the program was transferred to a new administration and Somos Monos' plans were delayed.

Now

The founders abandoned the project, saying they 'just felt like we couldn't wait,' and partnered with Whiner Beer Co. instead.

Why this matters now

The license at The Plant is the direct result of that earlier city-program setback, showing how small businesses adapt when public development pledges stall.

Ongoing

The Plant's transformation (ongoing)

The Plant at 1400 W. 46th St. was an industrial meatpacking facility that has become a sustainable business incubator housing food and manufacturing startups. Whiner Beer Co. brews there.

Then

The site gave Somos Monos a ready-made home and shared taproom.

Now

It concentrates multiple food-and-beverage businesses in one Back of the Yards complex.

Why this matters now

Somos Monos' new food service license extends The Plant's role as a hub for small food businesses in the neighborhood.

Sources

(5)
City of Chicago Data Portal Block Club Chicago CBS Chicago BeerAdvocate SomosMonos