LOGAN SQUARE — "Star Wars" fans at The Whistler bar in Logan Square on Wednesday got a glimpse of what Thursday's premiere of "The Force Awakens" might have in store: long lines, elaborate costumes and the camaraderie of fellow fanboys and fangirls.
That's because The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee, temporarily turned into Mos Eisley Cantina, the cavernous, divey bar that first appeared in "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope."
The small Logan Square cocktail bar on Wednesday decorated like the famous cantina, and even hired a band to mimic the fictitious band Firgin D'an and the Modal Nodes, the all-alien house band that plays at Mos Eisley. (Yes, those in attendance knew the name of the band.) Employees even answered the phone by saying "Mos Eisley's."
The promotion brought hundreds of fans from all over Chicago and the suburbs, some who lined up hours in advance of the doors opening at 6 p.m.
A bouncer outside the door said fans began lining up around 3:30 p.m., and that there were about a hundred people at 4 p.m., two hours before doors would open.
By the time doors opened, the line was several hundreds of people long, and snaked down Milwaukee Avenue onto Richmond Street. One man said he arrived 45 minutes before doors opened and waited an 1½ hours to get in.
Princess Leia at Star Wars Cantina Night at The Whistler in Logan Square on Wednesday..
Brothers Tony and Andrew Correa said they got to the bar about 5:30 p.m. Tony came from Evanston and Andrew from Joliet to check out the replica cantina.
They found themselves at the end of the line, on the sidewalk in front of homes on Richmond Street. Though they were worried about their prospects of getting inside in time for the band to perform, the brothers said they weren't going to leave without getting in.
"We're definitely going to wait it out," Tony said. "I heard they were playing the cantina song. We definitely want to hear that."
The wind and cold was getting to some people, but not James Lanning, who was in a full Chewbacca costume.
Lanning was with his friend, Orland Dami, who was dressed as Han Solo. The friends got their costumes for a comic book festival in the spring, and had them ready for Thursday's premiere.
"We got the gear, so we had to come out," said Dami, of Old Town.
Jason Fico as R2-D2.
Despite the long line, those who waited were in good spirits, talking about the movie and joking about each other's costumes.
Jason Fico spent much of his time in line taking photos with fans. That's because Fico had easily the most ornate costume of the night in a massive Styrofoam R2-D2 suit.
"This thing took months to build, a lot of starting over," he said. "So you have to show it off."
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