The gloom of infection hovered above Chicago business in 2020, with the activities and trends normally happening because of or in defiance of what ever COVID-19 variant was in participate in.

The year 2021 was a mixed bag for enterprise. Massive enhancement bargains moved forward, promising expansion for Chicago. But crime, inflation and problems related to the pandemic took a steep toll. Some sectors boomed. Some others withered.

The conventional New Year’s Eve ball fall will be a muted affair in most places Friday evening. So, in partial recompense, here’s a countdown of the 10 most significant Chicago business stories or topics of the calendar year, a seem back again that also tries to glimpse forward.

10 — Movie studio blockbuster

Cinespace, the West Aspect movie studio that has place Chicago on filmmakers’ maps, was marketed in a offer reportedly well worth $1 billion. Cinespace has supported 20,000 careers and is the residence of “Chicago Fireplace,” “Chicago P.D.” and other productions. The customer was the authentic estate arm of buyout agency TPG, which will take around from the Pissios family. From actors to carpenters and stagehands, lots of have a vested interest in the position. Outgoing CEO Alex Pissios wore a wire to support an FBI investigation of a Teamsters boss. Probably there’s substance for a new Television set series: Chicago Feds.

Tyler LaRiviere/Solar-Situations file

9 — Paper chase

The Chicago Tribune, erstwhile “world’s best newspaper,” was humbled in 2021. It fell less than complete management of hedge fund Alden World wide Capital, major to cuts in the editorial personnel and improvements at the major of the masthead. Alden obtained handle of the Tribune and 8 other major dailies by way of its acquire of Tribune Publishing and at yearend was making an attempt to incorporate to its countrywide collection of titles. No regional players stepped up to help you save the Trib. The Sun-Situations, meanwhile, is negotiating terms of a mixture with the mother or father enterprise of nonprofit public radio station WBEZ, marking a refreshing energy to maintain local information.

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