STREETERVILLE — The new Target store that opened Wednesday in Streeterville is the first in the chain with a bar, but the bar's technically a Starbucks.
When news broke that the Target planned for Streeterville had applied for a liquor license, fans of the brand — and of booze — reacted with excitement across the country at the thought of a bar opening inside one of Target's many mega-stores.
But on Wednesday, the anticipated "boozy" offering inside the store at 401 E. Illinois St. turned out to be a Starbucks, a partner brand and frequent fixture inside large-scale Target stores. Select Chicago Starbucks locations have been serving beer and wine in the afternoons and evenings since 2012, but Streeterville's store has the first so-called "Starbucks Evenings" program in a Target.
Another potential letdown: shoppers won't be allowed to take their drinks outside the 25-seat Starbucks while they shop. Still, Target officials Wednesday addressed their status as the nation's inaugural "boozy Target" with pride.
"I'm excited to see a unique store here in Downtown Chicago," said David Gerber, the Streeterville store manager.
The "Starbucks Evenings" menu will be available starting at 2 p.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends. The rest of the store will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. The menu includes wine and "local craft brews" including Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale and Goose Island IPA.
The Starbucks Evenings menu at Target. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
Other perks include a "local pride" clothing collection, and shoppers can purchase or load up their Ventra cards while checking out.
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