{"id":22103,"date":"2025-06-07T02:51:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T07:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/?p=22103"},"modified":"2025-06-07T02:51:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T07:51:18","slug":"the-violet-hour-closed-due-to-plumbing-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/06\/07\/the-violet-hour-closed-due-to-plumbing-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"The Violet Hour Closed Due To Plumbing Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Violet Hour Closed For Now As Plumbing Issues Plague The Influential Cocktail Bar<\/h1>\n

Introduction to the Issue<\/h2>\n

WICKER PARK \u2014 Internationally-renowned cocktail bar and lounge The Violet Hour is closed indefinitely as negotiations remain ongoing with its landlord regarding plumbing issues in the building. The influential bar, which won a James Beard Award in 2015 and is famed for developing cocktails that have since become mixological mainstays, closed about three weeks ago due to plumbing issues, according to managing partner Terry Alexander.<\/p>\n

Cause of the Closure<\/h2>\n

On Friday, those issues remained unresolved, Alexander said, forcing the bar to announce in an Instagram post that it would be closed until further notice. \u201cWe\u2019re occupying an old building,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had plumbing issues before, and unfortunately we have plumbing issues again.\u201d Alexander said that there was no timeline for when The Violet Hour, 1520 N. Damen Ave., might reopen.<\/p>\n

Complexity of the Repairs<\/h2>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough, and it\u2019s not a simple fix,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cIt\u2019s literally busting open floors, going down and repairing pipes, and the one thing you never want to do is go down and try to fix something, because you don\u2019t know what is beneath us. There\u2019s always surprises.\u201d The bar is closed at an inopportune time, as the James Beard Awards are set to arrive in Chicago June 16.<\/p>\n

Impact on Scheduled Events<\/h2>\n

The Violet Hour was scheduled to host a pop-up for the 2025-nominated Scotch Lodge, a Portland, Ore., bar, on June 15th. That event has been relocated to Friends of Friends, 2001 W Grand Ave., which was founded by a former Violet Hour bartender, according to the Instagram post. Alexander said that the bar has had a good relationship with its landlord for the past decade, but the two sides are still negotiating about the best way to resolve the repairs.<\/p>\n

Negotiations with the Landlord<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe need some help from the landlord,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cThey\u2019re trying to work with us. We\u2019re trying to work with them.\u201d The Violet Hour bar is nestled inside an unmarked building, often painted with murals or other works of public art. Property records show the building was purchased by Magic Carpet LLC for $13.2 million in October of 2012.<\/p>\n

History and Significance of The Violet Hour<\/h2>\n

The address associated with the LLC is listed as Newcastle Investors, a Chicago-based real estate investor. The Wicker Park bar is owned by One Off Hospitality, a restaurant group whose other ventures include The Publican in Fulton Market and Big Star taqueria, which has locations in Wicker Park, among other places. Founded in 2007, The Violet Hour has become synonymous with Chicago\u2019s craft cocktail trade, producing a tree of bartenders that branches across the city and country, as well as numerous cocktails, including the Paper Plane and the Juliet and Romeo, that are now considered classic libations in other bars and lounges.<\/p>\n

Future Plans<\/h2>\n

The prohibition-style bar has occupied the same building on Damen Ave. for the past 18 years, according to Alexander. He said he hasn\u2019t considered moving. \u201cTo find a space, to redesign a space, that\u2019s not two weeks,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cThat could be two years from now.\u201d Alexander said most staff have been moved to other locations owned by One Off Hospitality. He hoped this wasn\u2019t last call.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just going to continue to take literally one day at a time to figure out what we can do to move forward,\u201d he said. The closure of The Violet Hour due to plumbing issues is a significant setback for the influential cocktail bar, but the team remains hopeful for a resolution that will allow them to reopen and continue serving their renowned cocktails.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n