CHICAGO — Donald Trump didn't throw a Downtown victory party Tuesday night, and the hotel bar inside his namesake riverfront tower didn't, either.
The scene at Rebar Lounge inside the Trump International Hotel & Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave., was quiet Tuesday, with the bar playing sports instead of political coverage well after polls closed despite Trump's convincing Illinois win. Fox News and CNN called the Illinois race for Trump at about 8:45 p.m. as he was up double digits on the rest of the GOP field.
RELATED: GET LIVE ELECTION RESULTS HERE
The hotel and Trump's presidential campaign are "kept very separate" one bar employee said.
The bartender at #Trump Hotel bar had to be persuaded to turn the TV from ESPN to CNN for election results.
— Ryan Smith (@RyanSmithWriter) March 16, 2016
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The bar coincidentally still turned out a few Trump supporters visiting Chicago.
"[Trump] is right when he says we don't win anymore," said Shawn Hoffman, a retired man visiting from Loves Park, Ill. "Whether it's trade, whatever."
Though he supports Trump, Hoffman said he was just visiting town and didn't mean to be drinking at the presidential candidate's bar on election night.
"When I come to the city I stay here," Hoffman said. "This place is the best. What's not to like?"
The Chicago Republican Party hosted a watch party in support of Trump rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in Lincoln Park, but turnout was also low as election results were being reported.
Now at Chicago GOP party at McGee's in Lincoln Park. There are 11 people here. pic.twitter.com/wTgqUaqCz4
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) March 16, 2016
One guest, Michael Razar of suburban Glenview, said he was supporting Cruz because he sees Trump as "a huge gamble."
"[Trump] might be a great president, he could be a terrible president," Razar said.
Dave Wilson, another Cruz supporter, doesn't believe Trump is conservative enough to represent Republicans in the general election.
"The way I look at it, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the same person," Wilson said.
Trump's victory was met with mostly silence as it was being broadcast at the GOP party.
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