Beer Bistro North Shutters As DePaul College Students Fail To Support Bar

Beer Bistro North is no more. The offshoot of the popular West Loop craft beer bar has shuttered, with "for lease" signs plastered outside. The building, which was once home to St. Paul Billiards, appeared in Paul Newman’s 1986 film "The Color of Money." Workers gut renovated the pool hall to make room for a SmallBar that remained open until 2012 when Beer Bistro bought the space.

When Beer Bistro expanded to this location, along Fullerton Avenue near DePaul University, they were aiming to attract more than the typical beer nerd. Ownership thought offering a broader selection of brews—including those from macrobreweries—would attract a larger customer base. SmallBar’s ownership found their craft beers and high-end bar food wasn’t an ideal match for a spot. Beer Bistro thought the bar didn’t need to focus on serving college kids, preferring to go after an older crowd.

Apparently having Buds and Millers available didn’t cast a wide-enough net to capture customers in the neighborhood. Now four years after Beer Bistro moved in, the spot is empty once more.

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