Much like the oft-promised renaissance of Howard Street, a new, revitalized Biddy's was always just around the corner. The club opened and closed a comical number of times, at one point re-opening for a whopping four months before shuttering again. What it was: Biddy Mulligan's was a seedy rock club on the northern reaches of Sheridan Road, just south of the cemetery that keeps leafy Evanston at bay. What’s taken its place: Slippery Slope is no dive, but it’s one of the few places you can dance in the city without paying the crazy covers at a nightclub. Despite efforts to save the turn-of-the-century building, the Dodger closed in 2005 after more than 20 years to make way for condos. Many of the sugary drinks contained glow sticks.
What it was: Divey and dodgey in all the best ways, this Bucktown corner bar in a residential area featured a small dance floor in the back where ill-advised moves were busted to ‘80s favorites. Will there ever be anything like them? In most cases, we think we've found somewhat comparable spots to quench your thirst.
There may be a little of that going on with these now-closed spots, but for the most part they live on in our hazy, booze-addled brains exactly as they were: Places that were exceptional at something, be it cocktails or, in the case of many dive bars, being endearingly, hopelessly dingy. The lore surrounding some erstwhile Chicago bars and clubs is more compelling than the place itself ever was.
