16" On Center Chicago — 16 on Center

16” on Center (16OC) is a hospitality collective taking on projects and buildings in neighborhoods where they can’t wait to hang out.

Each restaurant, bar and venue within the collective is a stand alone business but 16OC exists to provide support and services to strengthen each and every one.

The name 16” on Center is the construction term for a center mark that creates the strongest build, which is how we approach each project: creating the highest quality places that are meant to last. From Evanston to Hyde Park, our venues, bars and restaurants draw Chicagoans out of their homes, enabling them to be part of their neighborhoods.

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Concept Timeline

1994

Ukrainian Village, Chicago
2004

Various Chicago Locations
2008

Evanston, Illinois
2011

Ukrainian Village, Chicago
2011

Logan Square, Chicago
2013

Pilsen, Chicago
2013

Pilsen, Chicago
2013

Pilsen, Chicago
2013

Pilsen, Chicago
2015

Hyde Park, Chicago
2016

West Loop, Chicago
2016

West Loop, Chicago
2020

Ukrainian Village, Chicago
2020

Fulton Market, Chicago
2022

South Loop, Chicago
2022

South Loop, Chicago
2022

Goose Island, Chicago
2022

Chelsea, Manhattan, NY
2023

West Loop, Chicago

Meet Our Leaders

Bruce Finkelman- Welcome to 16" on Center (16OC), the premier hospitality and concert venue group in Chicago. As a dedicated collective, we embark on projects and revitalize buildings in vibrant neighborhoods, eager to become your go-to destination.

Founder & Managing Partner
A Chicagoland native, Bruce Finkelman’s celebrated path in hospitality began as a graduate of the University of Missouri’s inaugural Food and Beverage program. Working his way through school at Columbia’s storied Blue Note music club, he found a home for his love of music.
Returning to Chicago, he landed a job with Hyatt Hotels Corp but was stifled by the big-box corporate mentality and he decided to head out on his own. A late night drive through Ukrainian Village would foreshadow the launch of the Empty Bottle. Described by Finkelman as a “cat-ridden hole-in-the-wall,” musical acts from all over the globe were welcomed as Chicago’s music scene blossomed. Three decades later, it is the only Chicago venue to make Rolling Stone magazine’s "20 Best Rock Clubs."
Finkelman’s manifold restaurant concepts are a function of his evolving palate. While bourbon took center stage at Longman & Eagle, and beer became the focus for Dusek’s, live music has always remained a relative constant in Bruce’s pursuits. Finkelman attributes his collection of diverse music venues to his love of live performances. “Create a place where you would want to be, and there are sure to be some others who will like it as well.” He spends what free time he has with his wife and daughter, perusing galleries and restaurants, discovering Chicago’s unique architectural history and neighborhoods, hopelessly rooting for its hometown football team and relaxing at home.

Founder
Craig Golden is the President of Blue Star Properties, a Chicago based commercial real estate company known for the acquisition and revitalization of urban properties. Before establishing Blue Star, Craig co-founded Sterling Bay Companies in 1986 with a high school friend. For over 20 years, they bought and redeveloped numerous properties, focusing on Chicago commercial opportunities in need of extensive rehab and redesign. Launching Blue Star allowed Craig to pursue a wider range of projects, utilizing his real estate knowledge and experience. Passionate for redeveloping older structures to fit the modern workplace, His portfolio currently contains over two million square feet of commercial space and he continues to seek new and exciting projects.
Having begun his post college life playing in bands, and after a number of financially unrewarding years, Craig learned the construction business out of necessity. The former musician also likes a good meal. Through his real estate endeavors Craig has been able to incorporate his love for music and dining into his projects wherever he can. In what can only be described as a stroke of luck he began partnering with local club-owner and music maven Bruce Finkelman. The two formed the company 16 On Center and more than a decade later, they have opened numerous restaurants and music venues in and around Chicago.
Craig is married with three wonderful children and lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Business Development
The intricate mosaic of Victor David Giron’s mind means that every number, every figure, every bit of data in the business becomes a work of art. When Giron was frequenting the Empty Bottle in his 20s, the Chicago native never dreamed he’d run a publishing house that would put out the oral history documenting the venue’s legacy. But the work ethic inspired by his immigrant parents (mother from Mexico, father from Guatemala) led Giron to found the acclaimed Curbside Splendor Publishing. And as if that wasn’t intimately involved with the Bottle, he leapt at the opportunity to join the 16” on Center team in 2014, first as controller and most recently as CFO & Vice President, Business Development, managing finance, business development, HR, and more.
A creative at heart, Giron sees his career as finding and refining artistry in numbers. “It’s not just math, it’s problem solving,” he says. “I studied philosophy in addition to finance, and that centered me on analyzing and understanding problems from multiple perspectives.” That approach helped Giron excel at early career stops at big corporations like PwC and Exelon, but his love of art kept calling. He had become friends with Empty Bottle honcho and eventual 16” on Center co-founder Bruce Finkelman, who convinced Giron to come on board and help shape the company. “It was an opportunity to work with someone I admired, and to work in the music and entertainment that I always loved,” he says. “It was an opportunity to help build something unique rather than continue on in corporate America.”
As time passed, that hands-on experience included developing new teams, including the business development department—which generates sponsorship and marketing deals—as well as Human Resources. And as 16” on Center builds new creative ideas and expands, Giron continues to find fails to flex his problem-solving muscles. “I still follow my mom’s advice to be a little pragmatic,” he laughs. “At 16” on Center, that means giving everyone on my great team a voice and helping them make the best decisions.”
While he spends his days focused on ensuring 16” on Center’s patrons can access the most thrilling music and hospitality to 16” on Center, Giron loves to spend his free time cooking and finding exciting date spots with his partner, Erika—not to mention sharing live music with his teenage sons, who may just one day publish the oral history of other 16” on Center venues.

Chief Operations Officer & Vice President of Business Integration
Melding passion and precision as the COO and Vice President of 16” on Center, Elizabeth Tulipana infuses boundless twists, turns, and surprises into the heartbeat of every new venture. Over 11 years and touching every facet of the business, Tulipana continues to harness both her artistic background and entrepreneurial spirit in equal measure. “One minute I’ll be working on a budget spreadsheet and the next I’ll help plan a party at Moneygun,” she beams. “Getting to be involved in everything from beverage operations to design, bringing creativity and strategy together is such an incredible opportunity.” A live music fan, an art school grad, and an acute business mind, Tulipana wields energy, strategy, management, and coordination for each 16” on Center adventure.
After growing up and developing a diverse skill set from Omaha and Ohio, Tulipana immediately found a home in Chicago. Her first role in the city was with the iconic John G. Shedd Aquarium, where she quickly excelled at organizing fundraising galas and essential strategy sessions. Tulipana then launched her own events company. In 2013, she leapt at the opportunity to join 16” on Center, just prior to the company’s launch of major projects like Thalia Hall, Dusek’s, and Punch House in Pilsen. Initially she was hired to build Thalia’s impressive and expansive events program, but quickly made an even deeper impact throughout the organization, including helping create the Shared Services team that supported site functions from IT to marketing.
“One of the core tenets of 16” on Center is being scrappy and having enthusiasm from within, and I’m really proud of the transformation that comes from that energy,” she muses. “We never duplicate ourselves, and we continue to do things that are additive for the city of Chicago.” As the organization continues to develop exciting new projects like the dazzling Salt Shed and has expanded into New York City, Tulipana is especially proud of 16” on Center’s cultural impact, retaining the spark of historic buildings and developing them into renewed community hubs.

Tulipana’s favorite projects are the ones where her team can build from the ground up. “I love to build something from nothing, embracing the days leading up to an opening with all of the last minute problems to solve,” she says. “I love helping my team, whether by giving advice or listening to an issue they are having, because the people who have worked for 16” on Center are what make it incredible." That same inspiration from movement and open-ended possibility fuel her off time, as Tulipana can most likely be found on a walk with her dog along the 606 or enjoying a negroni mid-DIY project at home. “I live with the spirit of 16” on Center: we're scrappy and have endless enthusiasm,” Tulipana says. “And I love that we’re not close to done yet.”

Director of Music
Brent Heyl’s dedication to music can surely never be questioned. When he first moved to Chicago, he had two goals: get an internship with the record label Thrill Jockey and see as many shows as possible at the Empty Bottle. The Long Beach, CA, native had grown up watching his dad play drums and obsessing over the punk played in skate videos with his brother. Heyl moved to Arizona for college, where he worked in restaurants while studying communications and political science, dreaming of being more closely involved in music. And when he got to Chicago, Heyl not only got that internship at Thrill Jockey, but he worked his way into a full-time gig, all while becoming a fixture at his beloved Empty Bottle.
“Even when I wasn’t able to go to some shows, I would sit outside the venue and smoke cigarettes, listening to the show through vents in the wall,” Heyl recalls. “I even moved apartments so I lived closer to the Bottle.” He eventually started bartending at the space’s sister venue, Sonotheque, while continuing to work in radio promotions. When Bruce Finkelman and his team opened Beauty Bar in 2010, Heyl was asked to manage it and help lead programming. When his strength in the latter was recognized, Heyl was asked to expand his work to booking events at a variety of unique spaces through Empty Bottle Presents.
“There were—and still are—so many good bands, scenes, and places to be supported in Chicago,” Heyl says. “Over the years I’ve booked shows in cemeteries, galleries, conservatories. We feel really lucky to help make these experiences happen.” In addition to his role as partner at Empty Bottle Presents, Heyl was the talent buyer at Empty Bottle and Thalia Hall before being named Director of Music for 16” on Center and talent buyer for Salt Shed in 2021.
Today, Heyl’s responsibilities continue to stretch in new directions, including overseeing marketing and talent buying across the various venues in 16 on Center’s portfolio. Connecting those dots across venues has helped him see the bigger picture from the fan perspective as well, and Heyl makes sure that he and his team do everything they can to make each guest’s ideal night out. “We think about the whole experience, from the moment someone steps onto our property, and make sure that our staff are friendly, inviting, and as excited to be at the show as our guests,” he says. “And by getting to put together events like Plantasia at Garfield Park Conservatory, Beyond the Gate at Bohemian National Cemetery, and Warm Love Cool Dreams at Salt Shed, I’m honored to pursue niche events that add flavor to 16 on Center’s larger calendar.” And lucky for Heyl, these days he doesn’t need to be listening to the music through vents.

Director of Music
Some of the best relationships start with a powerful mixtape—and that includes Director of Music Jake Samuels’ working relationship with one of 16” on Center’s cofounders. Craig Golden was just starting to develop Space in Evanston, and Samuels came across the site while on a walk through his hometown. Samuels looked into the soon-to-come Space and learned he had a connection to Golden through an old mentor, and decided the key to their first meeting would be sharing a CD-R of his favorite music. That mix established their shared interests and ideals, and now 16 years later Samuels has become an integral part of 16” on Center’s success. “I was basically the first employee at Space, and the rest is history,” Samuels laughs. “All these years later, the two of us get to share in these events, some of them in our hometown with our families, and it’s so rewarding.”
The founding of Space offered Samuels an unmatched opportunity to dive into the deep end and learn all of the ins and outs of live music programming and operations. He wasn’t just sitting back and planning a calendar—he saw every element of the building built up from the ground and discovered how they interacted to amaze and excite guests. From there, Samuels became the founder and talent buyer for Space Presents, a new offshoot for events hosted by the team at other venues. As Golden’s partnership with Bruce Finkelman blossomed into 16” on Center, Samuels’ role expanded as well, working as talent buyer for spaces like Thalia Hall and the Salt Shed as well.
“I brought that perspective from seeing every facet of Space throughout my work, ensuring that everything from the people that we hire, the acts we’re booking, the way the show looks and sounds is making it so that everything is the best it can be when they come in our doors,” Samuels says.
In 2021, Samuels was named Director of Music for 16” on Center, a role in which he continues his work with Space and Space Presents while also overseeing venue operations, production, ticketing, and more across the entire group. In recent days, Samuels has been excited to take his young children to 16” on Center shows when appropriate, including watching his son nap in a wagon during a folk festival and attempting to keep his daughter off of the employee walkie talkies at the Salt Shed. “I joke that sometimes it feels like the job is all heating, air conditioning and plumbing, and a little bit of music—but it’s so much about relationships,” he says. “We have countless acts that started in our smallest rooms and have grown with us through our different venues and now play on the biggest stages. For that reason, we’ll continue to have a tremendous amount of happy people working in our spaces that work hard to exceed expectations of guests and performers.”

Director of Food Halls
Growing up one of five boys on Chicago’s North side, Tim Wickes feels right at home with large groups of people gathered around the table. “My parents were always hosting large dinners with family and friends, and I’m trying to carry on tradition both through work and at home today,” ,” he smiles. “That’s something I’ll never let go of.” Now the Director of Food Halls for 16 on Center, Wickes bolsters that energy in the group’s projects in Chicago and New York—ensuring their food halls are vibrant, welcoming spaces simultaneously suited for everyday coffees and lunches and celebratory special occasions.
Wickes’ first experience in the restaurant industry came when he took a high school job at an outpost of the Chicago institution Gino’s East run by family friends. While the pizza was always good, it was the warmth and energy of the business that held an even greater appeal. That time inspired Wickes to attend the School of Hospitality and Business at Michigan State University, committing his future to strengthening the future of the industry.
Immediately out of college, Wickes took on management roles with the Hillstone Restaurant Group, moving across the East Coast in a series of roles. He later leapt at the opportunity to move back to Chicago to be closer to family and friends, managing Lettuce Entertain You’s RPM Italian concept in the city. “About three years later, I met Bruce [Finkelman], Craig [Golden] and the 16 on Center team, and saw the wonderful community of chefs and entrepreneurs they were building at their food hall and knew I belonged there,” Wickes says.
Wickes became the general manager of Revival Food Hall in 2017, helping foster that commitment to community. As 16 on Center continued expanding, Wickes became a key part of the process of planning new food halls, culminating recently in the opening of two new spaces: From Here On in the Old Chicago Main Post Office building and Olly Olly Market in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. “16 on Center is committed to empowering local chefs and restaurateurs,” he says. “We present a space where chefs worry less about the typical headaches of a brick and mortar restaurant. And in some instances it's been a stepping stone toward a full scale restaurant.” As a chief example of that support, Wickes and 16 on Center recently helped Michelin star chef Jiho Kim open the thrilling new restaurant Joomak, after Kim operated two beloved spaces at Olly Olly.
Still inspired by those evenings around the family table, Wickes leads a team of 50 to ensure that 16 on Center’s food hall projects are never just about the food—even when the meals are some of the best you’ll find in either city. “We provide engaging public programming in our food halls, including concerts, cooking classes, trivia nights, comedy shows, and vintage clothing pop-ups, and so much more,” he says. “We're constantly seeking out collaboration opportunities in both Chicago and New York. Both cities have too many talented individuals not to." Both cities are at the forefront of arts and hospitality. There’s no two we’d rather be.”

Press

Worth Its Salt- Chicago Mag

An iconic site in the North Branch corridor becomes a new centerpiece of the city’s live music scene.

Read More.

New Salt Shed Opens- Chicago Tribune

New Salt Shed opens for outdoor concerts in the huge former Morton Salt complex: Good sound, historic touches and oh, that skyline view.

An Oral History of the Empty Bottle

Staff members and musicians share stories of the venerable nightclub in this excerpt from The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing.