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Cocktail Lounge Serving American Grub Taking Over Old Harry's Velvet Room

By Mina Bloom | May 24, 2016 5:30am | Updated on May 24, 2016 5:43am
 Distilled Chicago, 1480 W. Webster Ave., is set to open this week.
Distilled Chicago, 1480 W. Webster Ave., is set to open this week.
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DNAinfo/Mina Bloom

LINCOLN PARK — A cocktail lounge serving American grub is set to open this week in the spot formerly occupied by Harry's Velvet Room. 

Opening Wednesday, Distilled Chicago is the third bar/restaurant to take over the spot near Webster Place theater at 1480 W. Webster Ave. in recent years. 

Most recently, the corner spot was home to Harry's Velvet Room, which closed after just five months of business after its "no selfies" policy made headlines. Before that, Webster's Wine Bar operated out of the space for almost 20 years before relocating to Logan Square in 2014.

"Unlike the previous owners, we want to be more approachable to the neighborhood as well as [to] people coming [from] the theater," general manager Kyle Jenewein said.

"We want to make sure that everyone who comes in can afford it, will have a good time and get a great craft cocktail."

To drink, there will be a craft cocktail menu and 24 beers on tap, most of them rotating. Bar food like nachos, quesadillas, beef egg rolls, sandwiches and burgers are just some of the items Jenewein said to expect on the upscale American food menu. 

The main lounge, which is outfitted with gold booths, fits 120 people. Upstairs, there's a private event space that fits 80, which the team may open to the public on busy nights, Jenewein said. An outdoor patio will fit 60. 

Dark walls, gold lettering and gold booths give the lounge a speakeasy-feel. But large flat-screen TVs will cater to the sports-lovers in the neighborhood.

"It's a really nice environment to come and chill and have fun with your friends. [People] will come for that lounge atmosphere," Jenewein said.

Distilled Chicago will be open from 5 p.m.-2 a.m. seven days a week. The soft opening is Wednesday, and the formal opening is Saturday.


[All photos DNAinfo/Mina Bloom]

The main lounge/bar area.

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