WICKER PARK — Estelle's, a late-hour watering hole with surprisingly good bar food just west of the main intersection in Wicker Park, plans to celebrate its 18th anniversary on Wednesday.
"Even as the neighborhood changed around us, we've remained true to what Estelle's is — a reliable neighborhood staple, with an unpretentious laid-back vibe," owner and Four Entertainment Group (4EG) managing partner David Halpern, said last week at the bar.
Located at 2013 W. North Ave., Estelle's was named for its prior owner.
"The bar was taken over by the building owners, who then brought us in to run it. We never dealt with Estelle, but would have liked to have met her," Halpern said.
A ChiBarProject story on Estelle's says it opened in 1988 as Estelle's Cafe & Pub but that the bar, once known as Tower Lounge, dates back to the 1930s.
Halpern and a business partner took over Estelle's on June 14, 1999, about three years after opening AliveOne in Lincoln Park. The privately-held company has since grown to include The Owl in Logan Square and Remedy in Bucktown, as well as several bars in Ohio.
Over the years, the food menu at the dark and cozy dive has changed.
"We went from serving bar food that was more of an after thought, to the food now being a driver for early night business. We are known for having great bar food made from scratch and definitely known for our burgers," Halpern said.
Set to be introduced to Estelle's menu on Wednesday, the $10 Armadillo Burger is a beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, and sour cream enclosed within two jalapeño cheese quesadillas.
Halper credited Estelle's success to its employees and location.
"We have very little turnover. We have our niche through our staff and our music, a unique jukebox... And less than a lot of other streets, the six corners still has an element it had back in the day. People still love to come to the six corners; it's remained a destination for all walks of life," he said.
Halpern said losing the Double Door was "like losing a good friend."
"A lot of my staff has played the Double Door or worked at Double Door at one time. We gained a hotel, The Robey, across the street and a lot of their staff comes in, but we definitely miss the Double Door being our neighbor."
Scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday and end early Thursday, Estelle's anniversary party will include a "half-price everything happy hour" (excluding shots and food) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., half-priced house cocktails all night, and $6 grilled cheeses.
Miskatonic Brewing Company will be tapping three new drafts (Ingenue, Shield Maiden and Epilogue) for the occasion.
When asked about future goals or initiatives for Estelle's, Halpern said, "The initiative is to celebrate Estelle's on Wednesday. If i could keep Estelle's with same vibe until the end of time, I would."
Estelle's at 2013 W. North Ave. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
Grilled cheeses at Estelle's [Provided]
