LOGAN SQUARE — The building once occupied by the much loved late-night dance spot Bonny's is on its way to becoming a bar again.
Bonny's is done for good, but the owner of the new business is renovating the building in hopes his upcoming bar will continue the feel of the former dive.
"We are trying to keep the integrity of the old place," new owner Jared Savocchi said. "I don't want to drive people away thinking it's some gazilionare coming in doing another concept bar. I'm trying to sort of keep it what it was."
He declined to disclose the name of the bar.
Bonny's, which was open for less than two years at 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave., closed in late 2012 amid a lawsuit between the owners and the landlords.
The bar was known for rowdy dance parties, its 4 a.m. liquor license, cheap drinks, red light, photo booth, good music and bad decisions. When Slippery Slope opened down the street in 2014, it also pointed to Bonny's as its inspiration.
"Everybody that I talk to and said I have that spot is like, 'Oh my god. Everybody's been to Bonny's,'" Savocchi said.
The storefront has been vacant since Bonny's closed.
Savocchi bought the bar and the three-bedroom apartment on the second floor, but the sale did not come with a liquor license, meaning he will have to apply for both the liquor and late-night licenses if he wants to turn it into a 4 a.m. option again.
Savocchi, the 34-year-old sole owner of the upcoming bar at 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave., is leaving a job in finance to open the bar.
"I wanted a change and I wanted to follow my dream," Savocchi said of opening a tavern.
The new bar will likely open in mid-to-late September.
The new owner obtained a construction permit for an estimated $80,000 in work to renovate the former Bonny's including replacing drywall, plumbing, windows, doors and floors, according to city records.
Savocchi said the front wall of the former bar was about to fall out, and that while his crew is doing a lot of construction, much of the bar will remain as-is.
The vibe will be for a "local feel" with a throwback to the '70s or '80s with booths, leather and dark colored interior.
"‘I want a place where people can come in and I want to know their name," Savocchi said.
It will not be a cocktail bar.
"We aren't going to over conceptualize and make it something that's going to be hot for a second and then not," Savocchi said. "It's going to be one of those things that gains momentum over time."
Time will tell if it lives up to Bonny's infamy.
We've rounded up some throwback photos from Bonny's last days.
Just did a shot of old crow with 39 other people. Gonna miss this bar. #ripbonnys #whereamisupposedtodrinkafterwork?
— OTK (@OTKphoto) September 19, 2012
Jenn Kloc true/false: I just changed into neon soccer shorts to help my sweaty dancing situation. #ripbonnys
— Jenn Kloc (@jennkloc) September 23, 2012
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