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Residents and business owners praise Rabbit Brewing, urge support during auditorium redevelopment
Summary
At the Homewood board meeting, multiple public commenters — including Rabbit Brewing co-owner Tobias Sichan and the owner of the Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby — urged trustees to preserve community uses and third‑place venues amid upcoming auditorium redevelopment plans.
Several residents and local business owners used the public-comment period at Homewood’s May 13 board meeting to praise Rabbit Brewing and other local gathering places and to urge trustees to preserve spaces that support community programs.
Amy Crump opened public comment by reading an excerpt on professional ethics from Timothy Snyder’s book on tyranny, calling for principled action by civic leaders.
The owner/operator of Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby (who did not provide a personal name on the record) described more than 100 adult and 70 youth league members who use local businesses after events and said Rabbit Brewing serves as an essential community ‘third place.’ "Rabbit has been such a huge part of the reason we feel at home here," the owner said.
Tobias Sichan, co-owner and co-founder of Rabbit Brewing, thanked trustees for prior support and asked that any redevelopment of the village auditorium preserve uses that accommodate youth and community programs. He told the board that the recent response in support of Rabbit included roughly 60 emails, a turnout for previous meetings, and broad community engagement. "It is all of this support from all of these people that I wish to address," Sichan said.
Speakers credited Rabbit Brewing with helping local economies when league members and visitors patronize nearby restaurants and retailers. Trustees thanked public commenters and acknowledged the importance of third‑place businesses to Homewood’s community life.
The public-comment remarks were received; no formal action was taken during the public-comment period.
