Benefit Concert At Sketchbook Brewing In Skokie Supports Will's Place

SKOKIE, IL — A concert to raise money for a local nonprofit café dedicated to providing employment opportunities for adults with disabilities is planned for next week in Skokie.

Sketchbook Brewing is hosting a benefit concert for Will's Place featuring live music from The Empty Pockets at its Skokie taproom, 4901 W. Main St. from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Tickets are available online. Admission is free for children under the age of 12 and $35 for everyone else.

Will's Place opened at 7927 Lincoln Ave. last year with a team of 20 employees, transforming a downtown storefront into a commercial kitchen and restaurant space with the help of donations from the community.

In addition to offering jobs, the café hosts Friday night social events and partners with the bridges program at Township High School District 219 to provide vocational training.

"We have watched our staff grow and thrive working at Will's Place," café founders said on their website. "Our philosophy is to work with each staff member to find a place in our restaurant that interests and challenges them and then to stand back and watch them shine."

Chicago roots rock band The Empty Pockets are also scheduled to play Friday, supporting Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs and Larkin Poe at the first-ever Off North Shore: Skokie Music Festival at the North Shore Center for Performing Arts.