Bar DeVille, One of Chicago’s Most Influential Bars, to Close After Nine Years

One of Chicago’s essential cocktail bars is closing — but apparently not for forever. Bar DeVille, Heisler Hospitality’s casual Ukrainian Village bar and cocktail lounge that set the template for much of Chicago’s current back-to-the-future bar scene, will close on July 29 after nine years in business at 701 N. Damen Ave.

But Heisler and partner Brad Bolt say they’re not closing it for long, as they say in a news release that “plans to reopen at a new, undisclosed location are underway.” They’re “actively working on breaking ground” on the new spot, the release states, and plan to open it “in the coming months.”

Bar DeVille opened in 2009 during a time when much of the Chicago cocktail scene had not yet evolved. It quickly gained a following and many accolades for Bolt’s inventive cocktails served in a chic-yet-relaxed space with found Victorian-style furniture and a pool table; sort of like a neighborhood corner bar that seriously upped its game. It also set the tone for Heisler Hospitality’s future acclaimed projects, including Sportsman’s Club, the original Bangers & Lace, Lone Wolf, Queen Mary, Estereo, and even Trenchermen.

Now, drinkers have less than three weeks to experience it in its original state. Stay tuned for more details on its promised reopening and relocation.