Alice’s Lounge, one of the few popular dive bars in Chicagoland with karaoke, is changing ownership at its location in Avondale at 3556 W. Belmont Ave.
Founder Alice Boron and her family opened the bar in 1986, according to a 2015 Reader article. Now, industry veterans Jeremy Schnitker and Zachary Fox and local bar group Hammock Hospitality have officially purchased the business this month after a year of negotiations, according to Block Club Chicago. Both Schnitker and Fox have worked for Hammock Hospitality establishments, such as Aberdeen Tap, and other Chicago bars and restaurants, including Dusek’s and Pub Royale.
While the beloved establishment will obtain new owners, Schnitker and Fox plan to carry Boron’s legacy by keeping the karaoke four nights a week with bar fixture Fred Wood as the host and its interior wood paneling. Ownership will also keep the original staff, some of which have worked there for 15 years. This is excellent news for the regulars of the bar, which closed down at the start of the pandemic. When Alice’s Lounge reopened in Fall 2021, customers were quick to rush back in. Schnitker, a bar regular, says Boron was motivated to sell for personal reasons and not because the business was struggling in any way.
While much of Alice’s Lounge will remain the same, the new owners will make minor changes, including upgrades to the point-of-sale system, the debut of a “speedy and delicious” cocktail bar, and getting rid of the buzz-for-entry system. Thankfully, the bar will not close for any of these renovations. Another possible change is the chance of the bar’s hours expanding to seven nights a week, rather than its current Wednesday to Sunday operation.
“All the props in the world go to Alice for building that,” Fox told Block Club Chicago. We’re super thankful that we’re not starting at ground zero. We see room to improve, but we’re so happy to have what we have. That was all because of Alice and her staff. Ninety percent of the changes are boring stuff that no one will ever notice. It’ll be the same old Alice’s, in many many ways.”
