Inside Avondale’s Nostalgic Pierogi Palace

One bite of Max Glassman’s pierogies is all it takes to taste the difference. In his alter-ego, Pierogi Papi, Glassman saves the city from mundane and limp Polish dumplings. He’ll stuff his with traditional fixings like cheese and potato but also deviate with braised beef or caramelized onion.

He’s popped up across the city, including Moonwalker Cafe in Avondale. The Chicago Reader’s Monday Night Foodball hosted him at an event last year. But after years of wandering, it appears Glassman has found a semi-permanent base of operations in Logan Square at one of the city’s most unique bars, Consignment Lounge.

Mark Pallman and Katie Piepel opened the bar in September 2022 in Avondale at 3520 W. Diversey Avenue and have stuffed the bar with a mishmash of trinkets liberated from estate sales, auctions, and antique malls. Pallman explains everything in the bar is for sale, including vintage sports memorabilia — he recalls a poster featuring members of the 1986 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears was a hot item. The poster captured players in the locker room wearing towels. There are also paintings, hats, old glassware, comics, and books: “It’s a smattering of things I like,” Pallman says.

Piepl and Pallman were introduced to Glassman as a patron. The bar had a revolving slate of food vendors and Pierogi Papi blew them away. And so, for the last few weeks, Glassman has been a fixture on Thursdays and Fridays. Milo’s Market is another Consignment Lounge regular, popping up when the schedule permits. Their specialty is “beeria” grilled cheese.

Pallman has a background in advertising and Piepl in real estate. The purchase of Consignment Lounge’s building was. at first, investment property for the couple, who have been married for four years: “I’ve always loved taverns and dive bar cocktails,” he says. They have a small staff of bar veterans. Jana Heili (Machine, The Walk-In) and Mark Bailie (SmallBar, Punch House) developed the drink recipes. KB Woodson (Stop Along, Harding Tap) handles staff relations.

Consignment Lounge’s drinks aren’t as fancy — or expensive — as some cocktail lounges, but they’re well thought out and more than hold their own. Pallman says it’s the customer service that makes the bar special.

The space also has its share of CRT TVs, which they can hook up to a streaming device to watch movies or even live sports. Some customers are tricked into thinking there’s some sort of nostalgic video filter being applied. No, that’s just an old-school 4:3 aspect ratio.

Hopefully, by spring, Consignment Lounge will unveil an enclosed patio that could hold 30 to 40 people. The bar should grow, Pallman says. After all, the original concept is the evolution of a basement.

Walk through the space below.

Consignment Lounge, 3520 W. Diversey Avenue, open 4 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday; noon to 2 a.m. on Saturday; noon to midnight on Sunday. Pierogi Papi onsite at 6 p.m. until sold out on Thursday and Friday nights — check social media to confirm.