Oct. 05--Taste of Chicago posted $320,205 in profit this summer, according to city figures, continuing an erratic trend of profits and losses at the Grant Park festival in recent years, officials said Sunday.
Taste lost just over $169,000 last year, when rains canceled the one and only Saturday for the event. The festival turned a profit of $272,000 in 2013 and lost a whopping $1.3 million in 2012. The city announced the 2015 numbers late Sunday evening.
Profits for the 2015 edition apparently soared even as attendance remained underwhelming. About 1.4 million people showed up this year compared with 1.5 million visitors in 2013, the most recent year in which the event lasted five complete days. The number of people who attended the abridged, four-day event in 2014 stood at about 1.1 million, according to the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has implemented several strategies to bump up revenue, including shortening the event from 10 days to five and introducing pricey new features such as the $45 Celebrity Chef du Jour meal.
Next summer's Taste is scheduled for July 6-10.
cdrhodes@tribpub.com
