Willie Lill’s is Bringing Southern Country to Park West

Willie Lill’s, the next big project from Last Call Tavern Group, is making its way to Park West, located at 433 W Diversey Pkwy.

This will be the eighth high-end sports bar for the restaurant group and is founded on a rich history, much like the rest of their bars. Willie Lill’s is named after an English immigrant who landed in Chicago in 1835 after walking over 300 miles from Louisville, KY. Owner Alex Zupancic tells What Now Chicago he expects to open Willie Lill’s sometime in Summer 2022, likely mid-June or early July, moving into the former home of Compass Bar.

When William Lill arrived, he brought his southern distilling knowledge to the city to Chicago and partnered with philanthropist and alderman Michael Diversey, who was a brewer. Together they opened the largest Distillery/ Brewery business in Chicago. To Honor William Lill’s determination to bring his craft to the Windy City, Willie Lill’s will carry over 700 bottles of liquor and have a southern/country vibe with a lot of barn wood and metal that would have been used in those days.

Guests can expect a high-end Southern-themed establishment, much like Lill set out to bring to the windy city in the mid-1800s. A scratch kitchen will provide delicious Southern-style meals instead of the greasy foods often found at sports bars. There will also be a front patio with great seating. Whether seated inside or outside, expect to find a plethora of flat-screen TVs to watch all kinds of sports games.

Last Call Tavern Group, formed in 2014, takes pride in creating establishments where every individual from every stroke of life feels welcome. No matter which bar you visit, whether it’s The Butcher’s Tap, The Reveler, Rebel & Rye, Full Shilling Public House, Clover Sports and Leisure, or Trace, the etymology can be traced back to some historical background, bringing the history of the area with the business. This isn’t the only upcoming project from LCTG, as the group recently purchased the vacant building that once was home to the Blue Bayou and plans to remodel one of their current locations, Celtic Crown, before 2023.