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'Hydrate' Team Takes Over Whiskey Trust, Chloe's in Former Spin Space

By Erica Demarest | August 26, 2014 7:57am | Updated on August 27, 2014 11:00am
 Big changes are in the works for the whiskey bar and dance club at 3200 N. Halsted St.
Whiskey Trust and Chloe's
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LAKEVIEW — Two months after Whiskey Trust and Chloe's debuted in the former Spin Nightclub space, new management and a name change are in the works.

LKH Management — the team behind Boystown hotspots like Hydrate, Elixir and Replay — has taken over day-to-day operations and will rebrand the whiskey bar and dance club.

Managing partner Sean Kotwa was mum on details, but did say Chloe's will be renamed and completely reconceived.

Entrepreneur Jason Zilberbrand opened Whiskey Trust and Chloe's, 3200 N. Halsted St., in late June after Spin Nightclub abruptly shuttered on Memorial Day.

Moving forward, Zilberbrand said the LKH team will handle day-to-day operations, but he still owns the business.

"I bought it for a reason, and I'm absolutely keeping it," Zilberbrand said. "It's a challenging business, and I've partnered with the best group there is. I'm allowing them to make some decisions that are best for the business."

Zilberbrand, who also owns a large aircraft brokerage firm, didn't offer specifics.

"All of these changes are incredibly positive," Zilberbrand said. "Being part of a big group allows us to do things in the future that I could not do on my own as a sole proprietor."

Kotwa said Whiskey Trust will become more of a live-performance venue in coming months. His team is enlisting local bands and cover bands.

"We're going to build upon what Whiskey Trust started," Kotwa said. I think the groundwork for a great concept is laid there. It just needed a little more refinement."

Since it launched, Whiskey Trust has distilled and sold its own whiskey and vodka, using Koval Distillery as a base of operations. Kotwa said his team was on the fence about continuing that practice in the future.

With this project under its belt, LKH Management now owns or operates six bars on Halsted Street in Boystown: Hydrate, Replay, Elixir, Halsted's Bar and Grill, Whiskey Trust and Chloe's.

"Our goal is to really create a whole new concept and different experience in Boystown," Kotwa said. "We want to increase traffic to the entire neighborhood and really solidify Boystown as the No. 1 gay neighborhood in the world."

LKH Management plans to announce specific plans for Chloe's later this week. Kotwa said the company was still finalizing details Monday.

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