Cal’s Liquors Is Straight Up
Usually, liquor stores with a bar attached are, well, a bit sleazy. But that’s certainly not the case with Cal’s Liquors.
Don’t misunderstand me. This is a dive bar in every sense of the words. The tables are a couple decades old, the whole place could use a good scrub-down, and the atmosphere has a grimy, gritty feel to it. And yet, this is perhaps the most no-nonsense, most ordinary place you could ask for in the heart of the Loop.
Cal and Fred Feirstein are brothers and co-owners of Cal’s Liquors, just a block south of Luke’s Italian Beef. This liquor-store/bar has been in business since 1947. The booze in the store is cheap, and the drinks in the bar are low-priced and strong. On the weekends in the bar, you can catch live bands performing. The acoustics may not be great in the tiny pub, but the friendly mix-and-match crowd more than makes up for that.
And that’s it! No frills, no gimmicks, just good drinks, good prices, good prices, and a good crowd. Once you’ve got all that, who cares about the décor?
Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) jasmined
Cal’s Liquors: 400 S Wells St; 312-922-6392
Sun – Weds: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thurs – Fri: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 1, 7, 11, X28, 126, 145, 151
Brown/Purple/Pink/Orange Line train (LaSalle)
2 Comments
Good find.
When I was living in Chicago I stumbled upon a place (quite honestly might have been this one) that was at least in the same area. Great dive bar, cheap prices, but the only downside – the clientèle stared at me as if I had a two heads when I walked in.
But after a few beers, however, everyone lightened up (big surprise, I know).
Heh. My friends have dragged me to a number of questionable dives, but most of them turned out just fine. Especially, as you said, after a few drinks.