The Alley Cat Chicago

The Team Behind Paulie Gee’s Is Opening a Wicker Park Dive Bar | Eater Chicago

"Planned as a comfortable neighborhood “third space” in Wicker Park, this dive-leaning bar from the Paulie Gee’s team will open in January 2026 at 2013 W. Division Street, skipping pizza slices to spotlight a tight food menu and an easygoing drinks program. Expect about six dishes tested at pop-ups, including crispy fried potato wedges with chives and black walnut aioli, a “Girl Dinner” platter of homemade pickled vegetables with sliced bread, whole-grain mustard, and a dirty martini, plus a pork chop for something more substantial. Drinks focus on batch cocktails and beer-and-shot combos, headlined by a signature bottled Negroni guests pour over ice themselves (inspired by a Negroni machine in Italy), alongside a small wine list, canned beers, THC drinks, and thoughtful NA options like nonalcoholic cocktails and NA wine. Open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a happy hour, the space includes a narrow room lined with vintage bookcases (26 seats plus 23 at the bar), a lounge with tables for 12 beneath a 250-pound chandelier from the nearby Chopin Theater, and a back “Green Room” with low-tops for 29 that can be closed for private parties, named for vining plants near the skylights; the vibe aims for an everyday bar that’s still date-friendly rather than a high-end, “fancy dive.”" - Sam Nelson