Iconic Belmont Tavern Set to Reopen
The Belmont Tavern, an iconic Chicago bar, is set to reopen this month after being closed for 25 years. The return of the well-known establishment is being closely watched by local residents and hospitality observers.
- The new iteration of the Belmont Tavern is located at 3405 West Belmont Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood, reviving a space that has been dormant for about 25 years. - Award-winning bartender Nick Kokonas, known for his work at Queen Mary, Longman & Eagle, and GreenRiver, is leading the revival. This is a different Nick Kokonas from the co-founder of the Alinea Group and Tock. - The ethos of the reopened tavern is "Everything Old Is New Again," with a focus on preserving historic elements like the original glass-block bar and copper-toned tin ceiling while introducing a modern craft cocktail program. - The original Belmont Tavern was opened in 1940 by Mitchell and Edwin Kaczmarek and operated for about 60 years as a working-class Polish dive bar, serving factory workers in the area. - The beverage program will feature 26 cocktails from Kokonas's career, all priced at $12, and in a nod to the past, the only draft beer will be Old Style. - The interior, a 1,600-square-foot space with a capacity for just under 100 people, features salvaged items such as church pews for seating and a retrofitted booth from the former Michael Jordan Steakhouse. - The renovation was supported in part by a city Community Development Grant which helped bring the building's infrastructure up to code after years of neglect. - While there will be no kitchen, the tavern plans to offer snacks from local partners to complement its extensive drink menu.
