After years of legal fights, a notorious River North bar and restaurant has closed for good.
Bottled Blonde, 504 N. Wells St., handed over its business licenses to the city on Monday, according to the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
“Yesterday, Bottled Blonde surrendered their business licenses, permanently closing the River North bar after a series of serious nuisance conditions dating back to 2017,” a spokesman for the city agency said in a written statement. “The establishment has a history of egregious license violations, including over-occupancy, noise violations, public urination, vomiting and other problematic conditions that have had a serious impact on neighbors and the surrounding community. The city is pleased that yesterday’s action will end three years of legal proceedings with the permanent closure of this problem business.”
Bottled Blonde’s parent company did not respond to a request for comment.
In 2017, the city moved to strip the Bottled Blonde of its liquor license after a host of alleged license violations and complaints from River North residents about loud music, unruly patrons and public urination and vomiting. The establishment was also criticized for implementing a strict dress code.
The city again tried to strip the liquor license in 2018, but a Cook County judge granted an order then that allowed the Bottled Blonde to stay open.
