Goose Island in Running for Millennium Park Concessions

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 7, 2011 3:20PM

One of the actual bits of business conducted during Mayor Daley's final City Council meeting earlier this week was a proposal to allow Goose Island to sell concessions during concerts at Millennium Park.

The details of the proposal, if approved, could be good for the city. It calls for a minimum annual guarantee of $80,000, and 15 percent of revenues generated by Goose Island’s food, wine and non-alcoholic beverage sales and 20 percent of all beer sales. Goose Island would set up a 20-by-80 foot concrete pad east of the Pritzker Pavilion’s 11,000-capacity seating bowl, with picnic tables be set up on the lawn adjacent to the tent. Goose Island would handle concessions for "at least 70 events."

Some of the menu items Goose Island would sell if this deal is approved include a rotisserie chicken sandwich on a baguette with arugula and roasted peppers, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, veggie panini with fresh mozzarella, ice cream floats, stuffed cheddar jalapeno pretzel and platters that include either fruit and cheese or hummus, olives and carrots. The proposed beers include Honkers Ale, Green Line IPA, Summertime and 312 Urban Wheat Ale.

Goose Island isn't a stranger to concessions at Millennium Park, having done some special events there last year. They were chosen by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events selection committee after a proposal request resulted in one other bid.

We're excited for the proposal because the current concession deal with the management of Park Grill screws the city out of a lot of revenue. Park Grill's ownership team announced in March that they were looking to sell.