Overview

• The closure was confirmed on June 27 after three weeks of indefinite shutdown caused by building damage and stalled repairs.
• Negotiations with landlord Magic Carpet LLC, part of Newcastle Investors, collapsed over the scope and cost of subfloor plumbing fixes in the Damen Avenue building.
• Founded in 2007 by One Off Hospitality Group, the Violet Hour won the 2015 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program and helped kickstart Chicago’s craft cocktail renaissance.
• The bar’s unmarked storefront, strict house rules and signature drinks like the Paper Plane shaped a generation of bartenders in Chicago and beyond.
• Management indicated this permanent shutdown might not end the brand’s story, suggesting the Violet Hour could reemerge at a different location.