Four Corners Planning Neighboring Bar to Benchmark in Old Town

The owners of the Benchmark are opening another bar one door down on Wells Street in Old Town. Four Corners Tavern Group plans to open the new-unnamed project early next year, but haven't revealed any other further details for those plans at 1500 N. Wells St.

Four Corners bought the multi-story building, which was split and used by a variety of retailers, in January 2014. The tavern group's Ryan Indovina tells Crain's that they may open two or three bars by 2017. That doesn't include their plans for the former American Junkie building, The Fremont, which should open in December.

There's been plenty of construction on that stretch of Wells Street of late. Work continues at the former Refinery spot, as the owners of Homeslice plan on opening Happy Camper at 1209 N. Wells St. Buzz Bait, Le Pain Quotidien, as well as Pomp and Circumstance opened last month. The Vig, a new sports bar, should also open by the end of the year. That's not even counting the expansion plans for The Fireplace Inn, next door to Four Corners' new site at 1448 N. Wells St.

Will the new spot cannibalize business from Benchmark? Four Corners touted The Fremont as a big change from their sports bar concepts. Perhaps another radical departure lies ahead with the new project.