LaVerne's brings slushies, karaoke and '70s flair to Woodlawn
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Welcome to your new everyday spot. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios
Walking into LaVerne's is like being hit with a wave of nostalgia: Checkerboard floors, fringed pendant lamps and green leather booths conjure the feeling of a 1970s cocktail lounge, where retro maximalism is king.
The big picture: The folks behind this new three-in-one bar, restaurant and upstairs event hub — set to open in one of Woodlawn's historic 1909 buildings by the end of the month — are betting on it becoming your next everyday place.
- "We just want to celebrate Woodlawn and slot into it in a way that feels like we've always been here," Aaron Hall, who also co-owns Dig a Pony and Hey Love, told Axios.
What to expect: Each of LaVerne's three spaces will have a different vibe.
- The main shotgun bar area will serve cocktails like Cherry Coke Long Islands, strawberry-chamoy margaritas and Wisconsin old-fashioneds, plus draft beers, boilermakers and pineapple-coconut slushies.
- Next door, The Hall will act as a spillover space for busy bar nights with karaoke, bingo or private events.
- On the second floor, the Village Ballroom (which has served as a dancing studio since the building opened more than a century ago) can accommodate 250 people for DJ dance party nights, weddings and workshops.
Best bites: For food, the Mexican-style rotisserie chicken — slow-cooked with achiote and ancho chiles — takes center stage and is served with black beans, rice, tortillas and salsa.
- In a nod to his Southwestern roots, Hall made sure to add a "walkin' taco" to the menu: a bag of Fritos ripped open and topped with vegan chili, cheese, onions and cilantro.
- Rounding it out will be street-style tacos, citrus-poached shrimp cocktail, chicken-basted potatoes with peppers, and a rotating offering of cookies and ice cream for the sweet tooth.
If you go: LaVerne's (700 NE Dekum St.) is aiming for a late-September opening, pending final permits.
- They'll be open till midnight on weeknights and 1am on weekends.