Urban Growler: A New Home For Klatches

Share

The Jack’s staff has been studying a book called Unreasonable Hospitality about the food and drink service industry and are applying it to the work that we do. Our new home for Klatches and newest community partner Jill Pavlak at the Urban Growler in St. Paul seems to have read the book too… or maybe ghost wrote it.  

When our longtime partner and Klatch meeting spot Common Roots closed in early 2023 we were certainly disappointed, but had no idea how difficult it would be to find a place that was, private, cost effective, had a cool vibe, served both adult beverages and good food (lots of places don’ t do both) and we could reserve the space twice a month for a year out. Truth is… we were spoiled. 

This writer explored 50 (that’s right 50) places in the cities and no one could check all the boxes. That is until we received a glowing referral from a good friend.  

Jill Pavlak and Deb Loch, partners in life and in business’ mission is to bring people together through beer, and twice a month since the spring they have been doing just that for our co-ed Klatches. The 50 plus employee, first owned by women brewpub in Minnesota certainly walks the walk. Jill shared that she and her partner felt supported by the community from the start nine years ago. Jill explained a simple guiding premise: “If we can sit down and have a beer with someone, we find that we have much more in common than what divides us.”   

After a short while at a recent visit to the Urban Growler, Jill and I realized that we had the same job (finding work for adults with disabilities) at the same place, just a few years apart. How’s that for having something in common? Jill seemed less surprised than I and imagine it’s because she finds this type of connection with people every day.  

Her caregiving journey is unique. Prior to meeting Jill, I have never met a hospice volunteer. She was also a caregiver for her father and Deb’s parents as well. Jill anticipated my question and answered it without me asking it… “how?” “…I try to be present as much as I can, I try to be in the moment.”  

Jack's & Urban Growler are currently hosting two Klatches per month. One for Sequel Makers (formerly Living With Loss) on the third Wednesday, and one for active caregivers on the first Thursday. Both start at 5:30 PM and both are held in a private space called The Hayloft.

-Jeff Myhre​