BUCKTOWN — Los Recuerdos, a Bucktown nightclub that closed last December after 29 years in business, will be replaced by Bring It, a CrossFit gym, the gym's landlord said.
The bar that once served liquor will now offer juices.
Jonathan Arango, whose family owns the building at 2315 W. Fullerton Ave., which long housed a nightclub and sports bar founded by his father, Orlando Arango, is a CrossFit enthusiast and works out a gym in New City.
On Tuesday, Arango said he also planned to exercise at Bring It to support the new tenants.
The gym's co-owner, Saul Bonete — who will be operating "Bring It 24 Club" along with Angel Cuenca and Darwin Jimenez, according to a recently issued business license — was not available for comment.
Arango elaborated on the plan.
"Their goal is to build on their current portfolio of clients and welcome neighbors and anyone that wants to workout. They will sell nutrition drinks and supplements. The bar in front that was previously for liquor will be for nutritional juice," Arango said.
Arango said the gym would offer CrossFit, Zumba and dance classes as well as personal training. The 3,500-square-foot spot will also offer a weights and a dance section.
Located just east of Western Avenue, the former Los Recuerdos closed last December and the space has been for rent since then.
Last year, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), who'd said he'd "had enough" after a string of violent incidents, led the charge to try to get the club shut down along with 15 neighbors.
Waguespack put Los Recuerdos into the city's deleterious impact/public nuisance process, which requires club owners to draft a plan of operation and work with the city to correct problems.
After three hearings, the Arango family, after consulting with a lawyer, decided to voluntarily close their club rather than fight to keep it open.
In October 2013, rapper Slamma was shot six times in front of the club. Then, after a 10-month shutdown, in September 2014, just days after reopening, the club was again the scene of gang violence in which cars were fired upon.
The new business license for Bring It 24 Club is good through 2018 and, according to the terms of its application approved by the Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the club will be open to members only and no food, liquor or massage will be offered on the premises.
Last year, a real estate broker who was trying to rent out the spot said that a gym or offices, such as for law or insurance, would be good uses for the space.
"Absolutely it's been a difficult year. The space has been vacant for a long time," Arango said on Tuesday.
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