WRIGLEYVILLE — Smartbar Chicago in Wrigleyville reopens this weekend after being shut down for 16 months during the pandemic.
The indie nightclub — known for its house and techno music parties like “Queen!,” which is hosted by Chicago’s most popular drag performers and world-class DJs — announced on Facebook on Monday it will reopen this weekend.
“We cannot wait to dance with you,” the nightclub wrote in its post.
Smartbar will require patrons to show proof of vaccination to get inside this weekend. This could change when shows are reintroduced to the nightclub, according to the post.
Upcoming shows will be announced through the nightclub’s newsletter.
Smartbar is open 10 p.m.- 4 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturdays, according to the nightclub’s website.
Representatives from Smartbar could not immediately be reached for comment.
Smartbar closed in March 2020, among many independent venues forced to shut down indefinitely when the pandemic made indoor events unsafe.
The team behind Smartbar, which also owns The Metro and Gman Tavern on Clark Street, has thrown support behind local and national efforts to help music venues and their employees, including joining the Chicago Independent Venue League and pushing to pass the Save Our Stages bill through Congress, according to its blog.
Jake Wittich is a Report for America corps member covering Lakeview, Lincoln Park and LGBTQ communities across the city for Block Club Chicago.
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