Inside SmallBar 2.0: Logan Square’s Itty-Bitty Neighborhood Tavern Returns

SmallBar, a cherished neighborhood watering hole inside a 118-year-old tavern space in Logan Square, is back in business after a brief hiatus after new owners took over in February. After four months of interior upgrades, the team welcomed back the bar’s many thirsty adherents in late May.

Fans of the cozy (read: 500 square feet) drinking spot buzzed with concern over potential changes in January when restaurateur Ty Fujimura (Arami), his brother Troy, and co-owner Jesse Roberts agreed to sell the business to Footman Hospitality, owners of Quality Time, Sparrow, and Bangers & Lace. Footman co-founder Jason Freiman, a longtime regular at SmallBar, sought to put concerned adherents at ease at the time with a pledge to keep “the soul of SmallBar intact and reestablish it for its next decade and beyond.”

As Freiman promised, the alterations at SmallBar are relatively minimal. A new Hamm’s sign hangs outside and workers fixed up the patio just in time for porch-pounder season in Chicago. Siren Betty selected new light fixtures and integrated vintage aesthetic touches into the decor. Beverage staples remain, like draft signature beers and ciders, joined by an expanded cocktail lineup and a broader selection of spirits. There’s a limited food menu of smash burgers, grilled cheese, fries, and cheese curds from the specialists at Patty Please, who plan to expand their offerings over the coming months.

Whether or not longtime regulars find the same unpretentious charm that made SmallBar a hit for 22 years in Logan Square remains to be seen. Take a look around the space in the photographs below.

SmallBar, 2956 N. Albany Avenue.

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