A brand new bar with a retail section called Nettare is making its way to West Town, located at 1953 W Chicago Ave.
Owner Conner O’Byrne tells What Now Chicago he just broke ground on the site and hopes to open the new bar in mid-summer 2023. Although the new business owner has spent years gaining experience as a bartender throughout Chicagoland, he was inspired by a college trip to Florence and Italy, specifically how they approach culinary arts. Within Chicago, he saw restaurants like Daisies bring a European influence to the Midwest. Now he is taking his experiences and influences and moving into the former home of Trattoria Ultimo.
“Our motivation for this isn’t just a philosophical one but an environmental one as well,” O’Byrne tells What Now Chicago. “To that end, anything that we do need to or decide to carry and sell from outside of our region will be chosen with that in mind. Partnering with sustainable and ethical producers to fill gaps we might have here in the Midwest (such as citrus) and using local companies who work to bring those things to our city (Epic Spices, Rare Tea Cellars).”
When the new bar opens next year, customers can expect more than a place to grab a drink. O’Byrne tells What Now Chicago he will work with local chefs to create a dining menu using the freshest ingredients. Expect European/ Mediterranean influence in these dishes, such as charcuterie boards. Additionally, O’Byrne bypassed a local moratorium and will be setting up a small liquor store towards the front of the store, where customers can purchase various types of wine, liquor, and beer. The company was recently approved for its liquor license.
“In short, we are very excited to be an entity that exists firmly in the Midwest, Chicago, and the West Town neighborhood specifically,” O’Byrne continues. “We believe that the uniqueness and identity of Chicago’s neighborhoods are a huge part of what makes it the great city that it is, and we can’t wait to help contribute to ours.”
