Chicago's Belmont Tavern to Reopen

- The revival is led by award-winning bartender Nick Kokonas, known for his work at notable Chicago establishments such as Queen Mary, Longman & Eagle, and GreenRiver. This is a different Nick Kokonas from the founder of Alinea and Tock. - The tavern, located at 3405 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale, originally opened in 1890 as a butcher shop and saloon and had been closed for about 25 years before this reopening. - The restoration focused on preserving historical elements like the original bar, back bar, wood floors, and copper-toned tin ceiling, with financial assistance from a city Community Development Grant. The new design incorporates salvaged materials, including church pews for seating and vintage chairs from the former Michael Jordan Steakhouse. - The cocktail menu features 26 drinks curated from Kokonas's two-decade career, with all cocktails priced at $12. The program is designed to be a creative training ground for up-and-coming bartenders. - In a nod to its neighborhood roots and proximity to the Belmont Blue Line stop, the bar offers a "Bus Tracker" special: a six-ounce Old Style beer and a shot for $4. Old Style is the only beer on draft. - The intimate 1,600-square-foot space has a seating capacity for about 60 guests and a total occupancy of just under 100, aiming for a neighborhood hangout atmosphere. - The original tavern was opened in 1940 by brothers Mitchell and Edwin Kaczmarek and for decades served as a working-class Polish dive bar for nearby factory workers. After the factory closed in 1977 and business dwindled, it operated as a key club with irregular hours in the 1990s before shutting down in 2000.