Empire Liquors to Shutter on Saturday

In the last seven years, Empire Liquors has been there through many changes in Wicker Park. Now Empire Liquors itself is about to change.

The DJ-driven lounge, one of the first projects by Matt Eisler (Trenchermen, Bar DeVille), is closing up after service on Saturday night. They're going out with a bittersweet celebration with old regulars, staff, and DJ appearances the next three nights, many of which are flying in. Music director DJ Hiroki, who's been there since Empire opened, will be spinning Friday and Saturday night. Lines still stretch down the block to get in on Saturday nights.

"There's been a change of direction for the neighborhood," Eisler says. "(Empire Liquors) had run its course."

A casual cocktail-driven bar, open seven nights a week, will replace it in late summer. Look for more details on that soon, and look out for Empire Liquors' last hurrah the next three nights.
· Empire Liquors [Official Site]