- Credibility:
RIVER WEST — A sophisticated cocktail lounge is slated to take over the building that housed one of the best-known Irish pubs in the country.
Emmit’s Irish Pub closed last year after co-owners Kevin Doherty and Ron Halvorsen sought to leave the hospitality business behind. The beloved bar had been in business for nearly 30 years and was featured in several movies and TV shows.
Now the space is being converted into The Pearl Club, a new cocktail venture by Rob Katz, co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group, and business partner Matt Ruder.
The Pearl Club will bring an “old-world elegance” reminiscent of the cocktail scene in London with a modern twist to fit the Chicago scene, according to a press release.
Guests can expect “unique riffs” on classic cocktails created by Lazy Bird veteran Paolo Acuna. The lounge will also feature a small menu from by Chef Isaac Blinn.
“What initially began as a real estate partnership in an exciting area blossomed into a larger opportunity to help write the next chapter for one of Chicago’s most iconic locations, which most recently housed Emmit’s Irish Pub,” Katz said in a statement.
The lounge’s interior is designed by Kehoe Designs and will feature rich wood tones, floor-to-celing velvet drapes, brass and leather.
The original wood bar from Emmit’s has been restored along with a herringbone floor finish throughout the lounge. The original brass revolving door has also remained during the course of the renovation.
The Pearl Club is scheduled to open within the next few weeks, but no firm opening date has been announced, a spokesperson said.
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