CHICAGO — The East Room is pushing for a late hour liquor license that will allow it to stay open and serve alcohol later.
The East Room, 2354 N. Milwaukee Ave., has played host to big-name musical acts like OK Go and the Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha, but it's only allowed to be open and serve liquor until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 3 a.m. Sunday. It's now applying for a late hour license that would enable it to serve until 4 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday.
If approved, the only thing that will change at the bar will be its hours, owner Zack Eastman said in an email.
"No matter what license East Room holds we plan on being an active and supportive neighborhood business," Eastman said.
Eastman said neighbors have been "positive" about the application, but promoter and DJ Johnny Love, who hosts his popular Soft Leather parties at the bar, said he's on the fence.
“While on one hand, as a promoter, I’m excited about two more hours of bar sales, I’m also wary of East Room becoming a meat market-type bar a la Owl or Estelle's and the type of crowd that will bring, especially since I’ve worked hard to try to cultivate a special and unique space for the people that come to my parties,” Love said.
Eastman said there is not yet an estimated date for when the East Room will have the late hour liquor license, and the bar will work with the city and create a Late Hour Exterior Safety Plan before it gets the license.
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