News

Jeremy Hall has taken over the Happy Hop Homebrew & Gourmet in Belleville. He and his wife, Susan, will be rebranding the shop with their own mark: Down the Hall Homebrew, Inc.

The Halls have been working with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) since April 2018. The collaboration began when Jeremy attended an SBDC monthly “Starting a Small Business in Illinois” seminar, which highlighted a variety of topics, including the basics of starting your own company.

Hall met with SBDC Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May, who assisted with his business plan and requirements for registering his business. She also provided suggestions on marketing, network connections and referrals for insurance, sign makers, trade associations and more.

“Jo Ann and the SBDC have been incredibly helpful throughout the process of opening this store,” Hall said. “She has provided valuable advice and contacts for people/services that have aided in this process.”

“Mr. Hall has been dedicated and calculated in starting his business,” Di Maggio May said. “He is savvy and ready to take on this operation with his own twist. We are always happy to help and look forward to seeing Down the Hall Homebrew grow.”

Hall has been home brewing since 2011. He wanted to change his career path and realized that home brewing was one of his passions. He had been searching for a location to start his own business without luck. But, that changed when the opportunity arose to buy Happy Hop Homebrew & Gourmet. Jeremy and Susan decided to take on the new venture and open up their own business.

Down the Hall Homebrew, Inc. is a full-service shop with home brewing for beer and wine, distilling supplies and more. There are several types of grains, hops, yeast, kegging equipment and other supplies to start your own beer or wine at home.

Additionally, the shop offers a unique twist with a selection of home décor and furniture, since Susan is an interior designer.

Down the Hall Homebrew, Inc. is located at 122 E. Main St. in Belleville. For more information, visit downthehallhomebrew.com and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like Down the Hall Homebrew, Inc. as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929.