Charlie's Chicago

Brennan Mack

about 2 months ago

Management should reconsider their business approach in how they operate. This is a fantastic bar, awesome events, and incredible staff members! The staff members are the nicest people I have met in the bars in boystown! I come here very often for the dance portion when it starts at 1:30am and I even boast to people about how great it is. I even recommend to others that it's one of the bars they have to experience. Unfortunately, after coming here so often for so long, a few major issues persist in which gets exhausting to experience every time which is making me reconsider not coming here and not recommending this bar to everyone that I have been and going forward. The coat check during high volume times absolutely needs 3 people working coat check or double than what they have been. Will literally spend an entire hour or more waiting to check and uncheck belongings every time; that 30m - 1+ hour wait is expected per trip to coat check; meaning, 30m - 1hr to check in and an additional to check out. Additionally, during high volume times, the coat check also takes drink orders on top of an already excessively long wait for coat checking / unchecking. Drink orders should not be permitted at coat check during high volume times. You have a ton of line jumpers at coat check and the polite and respectful people get shoved aside easily and don't want constant confrontation from drunk or other forms of inebriated people for my own safety, so the wait is even longer. Another major issue, sometimes, you need to step outside for fresh air, but you will have to wait back in line to get inside Charlie's after you already did your fair share of excessive waiting to get in to the bar on top of the excessive wait times for coat check and the bathroom. They stamp you when you walk in, so that's how the bouncer and Charlie's staff members can identify already checked in patrons. If you step outside in the winter, cause you need to step outside regardless of the reason, you aren't going to wait in the line for coat check to go outside for 5m cause you might as well go home at that point and then to repeat all the excessive waiting again. Not much to do about this but, the lines to the bathrooms during high volume times are just as long as the coat check and to get into Charlie's, the bathrooms can't handle the high volume of patrons, wish they could expand the building a bit to increase bathroom capacity. If the other resolvable issues didn't exist then I likely would not complain about the bathroom issue. All of these issues are explicitly regarding the high volume times between 1:30am - close when the dance portion is active. Generally, Thursday - Sunday but especially Saturday.

Victor A.

2 months ago

Adrian the manager is an asshole I would give a 0 but there's no Ciro he didn't let us in because of my friend she forgot her purse at home and he knows...

Greg Mish

3 months ago

Love getting there early on Fridays. love all the staff they are just awesome and beyond nice thank you guys for a awesome night. Can't wait in 2 weeks to head back

Jacob M.

5 months ago

We left celler, 2nd time ever being there. Walk to Charlie following other friends of my friend. First time ever at Charlie. Only order a $8 captain and...

Eugen

5 months ago

A place with good music, amazing people. All the employees are so nice, the bartenders and security. Their shows are great. More than that they helped me when I needed their help. Thank you for everything!

Sam

6 months ago

My partner and I actually met each other here by chance nearly 10 years ago! It was a weeknight with a sparse crowd so our friend groups chatted and we hit it off. Charlie’s holds a special place in our hearts, but overall it’s also a fun place to go for a night out. Big space, fun drag nights, solid dance floor, cheap drinks. On the weekends it can be chill earlier in the night but definitely gets rowdy by late night, open super late too.

Duncan S.

7 months ago

Charlie's Chicago is an AMAZING neighborhood bar. They have awesome shows and events throughout the week, they support the community by allowing charities...

rgoar5

7 months ago

What can I say. I love this bar!!! They have done a lot to improve their image. This is a safe place for all people. Don't believe it, go take a look for yourself. Great Shows. Huge cast of wonderful entertainers. Hot Go-go Dancers. The bar staff care!