A Look Inside the ‘Stranger Things’ Bar Pop-Up in Chicago

Where it’s all right to get caught in the “Upside Down”

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Aug 18, 2017, 11:00am CDT

Photography by Marc Much

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.

Netflix’s delightful and suspense-packed TV show, Stranger Things, has begotten a pop-up bar in Logan Square thanks to the team behind Emporium Arcade Bar. The Upside Down debuts at 7 p.m. tonight at 2367 N. Milwaukee Ave. (at Emporium’s pop-up space that housed Surf Bar) and will last through the fourth week of September. Emporium’s crew showed determination reminiscent of police chief Jim Hopper in recreating scenes from the TV show which starts season two in October.

The Upside Down is the dystopian realm on the show, and the pop-up’s insides feature all the 80s goodness fans would expect. The entrance feels like visitors are infiltrating the Hawkins Department of Energy. Once inside, look up to the ceiling to see a table featuring toasted waffles, a callout to telekinetic Eleven’s favorite meal. The blinking Christmas lights that allowed communication to the Upside Down are also present, as is an old-school AV rig. Visitors can also sit on the Byers’ family couch.

There’s seven cocktails, including two slushies. “Eleven’s Eggo’s” has a maple syrup taste and is garnished with a waffle wedge. The other cocktail is named after the sinister Demogorgun, the creature from the show. They’ve also got a few kegs of Goose Island’s GI5-5538, a red ale that was the official brew of this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival. The beer was brewed for Survive, the band who performs the TV show’s opening theme. There’s no food served.

Bar management doesn’t expect problems with long lines. Fans can just hop on to Emporium or another bar to wait if needed. The bar will have themed-music nights with a heavy dose of New Wave synth and more 80s tunes. Management hopes patrons will dress up as Barb and other characters.

Cross over to the nether realm and check out the photos below.

The Upside Down, 2367 N. Milwaukee Ave., open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesday through Friday; noon to 3 a.m. on Saturday; noon to 2 a.m. on Sunday.