LAKEVIEW — The leather bar Manhole will return to Boystown later this month, as the location that once housed Spin Night Club undergoes further changes.
Spin closed on Memorial Day after 15 years in Boystown. Entrepreneur Jason Zilberbrand took over the corner lot at Belmont and Halsted to debut two new concepts in June: Whiskey Trust bar and Chloe's nightclub.
Late last month, it was announced that LKH Management — the team behind Boystown hot spots like Hydrate, Elixir and Replay — would assume management of Whiskey Trust and Chloe's.
Managing partner Sean Kotwa confirmed Monday that Chloe's will close Saturday. The two-floor dance club will reopen Sept. 18 as Manhole, a leather bar with a dance floor, lounge and pool table.
"It's a concept we feel will do well in Boystown," Kotwa said. "Given the popularity of our Manhole nights that we host at Hydrate, we definitely saw a need in the community for a venue of its own."
Manhole, an iconic Boystown dance club at 3458 N. Halsted St., closed in 2002 when LKH Management bought it and converted it to Hydrate. The bar has since hosted "Manhole nights."
"We're really looking forward to bringing the concept back to Boystown," Kotwa said. "It really gives us the opportunity to pay homage to Manhole."
The lower level of the bar will serve as a dance club with DJs. It'll be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and guests will be required to don leather gear or go shirtless — "like the original Manhole," Kotwa said.
"It's pretty much for anyone who gets into leather and fetish gear, and people who love those individuals," he said. "I think we've definitely seen a resurgence of the leather community across all age spectrums."
The bar's upper level will be converted to "The Den," a lounge with billiards and darts that's open seven days a week.
Manhole will host a VIP preview party on Sept. 18. The bar will be officially open to the public on Sept. 19.
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