Late-Night Wicker Park Bar Unveils New Look After 27 Years on Milwaukee Avenue | Eater Chicago

"This long-running, 44-year-old 4 a.m. bar on Milwaukee Avenue moved from Lincoln Park to Wicker Park in 1994 and balances a sense of neighborhood history with a recent refresh. A 110-year-old portrait nicknamed “Peaches,” reportedly from Yugoslavia and rumored to have once been owned by Nazi soldiers, hangs on the wall and survived a shooting in the early ’80s (three bullet holes remain even after professional conservation removed years of smoke stains). Now operated by Spot On Group, the bar underwent remodeling during the COVID shutdown, hiring out-of-work hospitality workers to preserve its original feel while updating the space: the back tiki bar has become a sandwich counter offering deli-style sandwiches for now, with plans to install a kitchen hood and add retro-diner late-night items like burgers and soft-serve. General manager Jeremy McDevitt — a long-time bartender turned culinary-school grad with early internships under acclaimed chefs — is steering a shift toward a broader beer program (an improved 20-tap system with more craft selections) and expanding the music lineup beyond occasional blues after uncovering a relic from the venue’s punk-era predecessor, including an original liquor license signed by Mayor Harold Washington." - Ashok Selvam