Avondale's Belmont Tavern Rises from a 25-Year Slumber to Become the Neighborhood's New Gathering Spot

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Avondale ·

History is back on tap in Avondale. The Belmont Tavern, a storied neighborhood bar that sat dark and vacant for roughly a quarter century, has officially reopened its doors — and locals couldn't be more excited to welcome it back.

At the helm of the revival is Nick Kokonas, a longtime Chicago bartender bringing two decades of hospitality experience to the project. Rather than erasing the bar's storied past, Kokonas has taken great care to preserve the original 1890s-era character of the space while giving it fresh life. The drink menu leans into approachable neighborhood-bar energy: 26 cocktails priced at

2, Old Style on draft, and a thoughtful selection of beer and wine — all rounded out with happy hour specials tailored to the local crowd.

Conveniently situated near the Belmont Blue Line station, the tavern is already positioning itself as a welcoming hub for both longtime Avondale residents and newcomers discovering the neighborhood. In a stretch of months that has seen Avondale earn global recognition as one of the world's coolest neighborhoods, the Belmont Tavern's return feels like a love letter to the community's deep roots — proof that the best of Avondale isn't just what's new, but what endures. Stop in, pull up a stool, and raise a glass to the neighborhood.

Sources:
1. https://exhibitcitynews.com/chicago-moves-from-winter-conventions-into-a-full-2026-events-calendar/