Eater Inside

Tour The Native, Keeping Dive Bars Alive in Logan Square

Four years after Bonny's shuttered, the space is reborn on Wednesday

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Nov 22, 2016, 9:45am CST

The Native, a new dive bar in Logan Square, has taken over the Bonny's space.

Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

After four years of dormancy in Logan Square, the former Bonny’s space will be ready to rock on Wednesday, reborn as The Native. While Bonny’s was a beloved dive bar that erupted over the weekends into a late night dance party, The Native looks to be more low key, carving its identity as a neighborhood bar with 1970s decor.

First-time bar owners Jared and Carly Savocchi haven’t reinvented the wheel. For those who partied at Bonny’s before it closed in 2012, The Native isn’t unrecognizable. Over in the back, there’s a shuffle bowling game if guests are bored with their company or their competitive juices kick in and need an activity. There's one TV and there’s a patio with room for 50.

The food situation is simple: Free popcorn and frozen pizzas that hopefully won’t burn the roofs of guests’ mouths off. 10 beers are available on draft and there are a few house cocktails.

The Native is cash only. They’ll close on Thanksgiving Day and reopen Friday. Take a photo tour below.

Note: The Native doesn't have a late-night license.