The Map Room was founded in 1992 by Laura and Mark Blasingame after many years of traveling; when they came home, they founded a tavern that incorporated an international theme along with a down-to-earth atmosphere. The bar was given its name from the film, “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
The Map Room in Wicker Park focused on taking care of its each of their selections, along with providing an intimate atmosphere of a neighborhood corner bar.
“It used to be really hard to get good beer because 20 years ago when we got into this with the help of the Chicago Beer Society and Greg Brown, few people sold good beer, and those who were didn’t know much about the beer they were serving, said Laura Blasingame, co-founder of The Map Room. “The Chicago Beer Society and Greg Brown and home brewers really help lead us in the beginning.”
The Map Room’s selection of beers comes from local and international distributers, along with beers of the week and beers of the month.
“Whether you choose from of our 26 taps, a cask-conditioned ale on hand pump, or one of our bottled beers, the quality and selection is world-class,” said bartender and manager, Jay Janowski said. “Our draft and cooling systems are state-of-the-art, and we have been trained in draft systems technology and quality.”
As the learning process evolved from learning about beers, and different service techniques were acquired, The Map Room observed a slow change in the beer market in Chicago.
“As we became more educated, more brands came to the market. People started to understand the beer they were selling, and brewers knew to come to us because they knew we would care for their product,” Blasingame said. “We found that bars around Chicago didn’t care for their beer as much as we did.”
With the bar focusing on its surrounding community, The Map Room was able to form a strong base of regular clientele, and in turn started the word of mouth frenzy of a small bar in the Wicker Park-Bucktown community that served quality international and local beers.
“When I moved to the Wicker Park and Bucktown area 10 years ago, you ran home from the Blue Line,” said James Bachmann, local resident. “The area has progressed, and there has always been an artistic community and it’s still that way: everyone knows each other. You’re able to recognize people. The gentrification hasn’t changed the community. I don’t think you could take the character out of this area.”
The Map Room is part of a Chicago-wide event called, “Chicago Beer Week.” This display of local bars and taverns covers the whole Chicago area May 17 to 27.
“Beer Week focuses on getting people to travel neighborhoods via CTA, to visit all the communities in Chicago,” Blasingame said. “For instance, we have neighborhoods working together, including Wicker Park, Hyde Park and Bridgeport. The whole point is to get out and experience parts of the city you don’t normally visit. It’s all organized by Chicagoans for Chicagoans and to feel the city anew.”
With being the fourth Chicago Beer Week, the Chicago beer scene can expect to see even further growth.
“Beer is hot right now in Chicago. It seems the last couple of years many gastro pubs have opened up and working together as a collaborative effort,” Blasingame said. “Beer people tend to all ready have a sense community awareness, and that strengthens us as a community and a city, even distributors are working together to promote Chicago Beer Week.”
