06/10/2026
Today marks the anniversary of one of the craziest days of our lives. At this exact time after the dust and madness settled we laid on a cold bar floor asking ourselves what the heck just happened! Here we are 10 years later to the day and minute! Wow what a ride itâs been â€ïž.
Ten years later, itâs hard to put into words what Pour Bros. has become. The friendships, memories, community, and experiences that have come from this place are more than we ever dreamed possible and truly one of the most amazing things we could have ever hoped to be a part of.
Ten years ago today, June 9, 2016, Pour Bros. opened its doors for the very first time for a âsoft opening.â đ
The truth is, we almost didnât make it to opening. We worked through the night trying to finish the buildout. Our brand-new pour-your-own beer wall and POS system werenât communicating, so none of our inventory was loaded. We had our first ever concert with Anderson East and pages of contracts to execute. The Liquor Commission showed up about an hour before opening to determine whether we were even legally ready to operate.
More than once that day, we talked about pulling the plug.
Instead, with the help of an incredible group of friends, family, contractors, staff, and supporters, we put our heads down and kept going. Somehow, literally one minute before opening, everything was finally ready.
As our brand-new staff looked out the windows, they could see a crowd beginning to gather. We thought maybe 500 people would show up to check out the first pour-your-own beer wall in Illinois and catch the concert.
Over 2,500 people came.
What followed has been ten years filled with thousands upon thousands of memories. Countless concerts. Hundreds of bands. First dates, engagements, weddings, reunions, birthdays, celebrations, and even moments of loss where our community came together to support one another. Weâve watched complete strangers become friends and friends become family.
Weâve faced challenges we never could have imagined. Economic ups and downs. A global pandemic that threatened the future of small businesses everywhere. Personal tragedies and difficult moments that tested all of us. Yet through every challenge, this community showed up, supported one another, and reminded us why places like Pour Bros. matter.
Weâre incredibly grateful for every musician who has played our stages, every artist who shared their talent, every vendor, partner, neighbor, and business owner who helped make our communities stronger. The relationships weâve built over the last decade are among the greatest gifts this journey has given us.
Weâre especially thankful for the staff members who believed in this crazy idea and poured their hearts into it. Many of them became lifelong friends. Together weâve shared victories, setbacks, laughter, stress, and memories weâll carry forever.
But perhaps what makes us proudest is something much more personal.
Ten years ago, we were young parents with small children running around the taproom. Today those kids are teenagers, college students, and young adults. Through all the long days, late nights, and challenges of owning a small business, weâre incredibly grateful that the friendships, families, and relationships that started this journey are still here. Older, wiser, and maybe a little more tiredâbut still together.
That means more than any sales record, expansion, award, or accomplishment ever could.
What started as a crazy idea became something much bigger than we ever imagined.
To every customer who poured a beer, attended a concert, played a game, worked a shift, brought a friend, or supported us along the wayâthank you.
You helped build this.
Hereâs to the first 10 years, and to whatever comes next.
Cheers,
Rob & Nathan đ»
