WEST LOOP — A bar opening in the West Loop may be just the place for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
Bunker, 1515 W. Monroe St., is four steps below ground level inside The Duncan, a luxury apartment complex. It has a full bar, cocktail table arcade games, shuffle board and an old school jukebox. The space also includes a large, enclosed patio for guests to enjoy small bites with family, friends or their dogs.
“I want [people] to feel like this is their neighborhood spot,” said owner Mike Salvatore, of Heritage Hospitality.
With plans to open by early May, Bunker will have a robust cocktail program offering the classics and some fun originals, Director of Hospitality Anne Marineau said. On the beer side, the bar will have local brews, including Maplewood, Half Acre and Lo Rez.
“We really want Chicago and the surrounding areas to be highlighted … so we’re really excited to show that off,” Marindau said.
There will also be a Mexican-inspired menu with a fast, casual approach to service. Menus for inside and on the patio will differ slightly, with a focus on smaller bites on the patio and more dinner-like portions inside.
Salvatore said he is most excited for guests to experience the Bunker’s playlist, which has been created by the Numero Group, an archival record label in Chicago that makes compilations of previously released music from all genres. Guests can shuffle through songs in the Bunker’s jukebox machine, a $500 find on Facebook Marketplace.
“People aren’t going to know how good the music is because it’s very obscure, but when you hear it you’re going to like it,” he said.
Bunker will be open 3-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 2-10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 2-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Help Block Club Get
500 More Subscribers!
Subscribe to Block Club now and you’ll get a free 16-by-20-inch Chicago neighborhood print of your choice, helping us reach our goal of getting 500 more subscribers before 2024. Click here to subscribe or click here to gift a subscription.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
