5 things to expect under new Hideout ownership
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Teri O'Brien. Photo: Courtesy of Ashtin Paigech
Last month, Chicagoans absorbed the news that owners of The Hideout nightclub were selling it after 30 years to musician and former staffer Teri O'Brien.
Why it matters: At the time of the sale, O'Brien was still processing her new stewardship and ownership duties and was short on future plans.
- We caught up with her a week later, after she'd done fun things like transfer the "waste management accounts into my name," to see if we could glean a few more details about the club's future.
🍹 Cocktails and mocktails: "We've got some mixologists behind the bar who have so many fun ideas and can't wait to flex their craft," O'Brien said, assuring the drinks would be "made in the Hideout vein."
🌭 Food: About 75 years ago, the backroom of The Hideout was famous for delicious Italian beef sandwiches and O'Brien was thrilled to hear the bar never gave up its food license.
- Without a real kitchen, the club won't be able to cook elaborate dishes, but O'Brien predicts "there could be hot dogs in the future."
🌎 Music City vibe: O'Brien spends half her time in Nashville, where she performs often as a singer-songwriter under the name Bronte Fall. She wants to bring more artists from Music City, "New York and LA and around the globe."
🎻 Songwriter in the round nights: "I went to school for violin and I love fiddle jams. I want to bring songwriting rounds and jams for bluegrass, old-time Irish music and more."
🎤 Political and community programming: When we asked if political and community live shows like Axios' Office Hours would still be welcome at the club, O'Brien answered, "absolutely!"