New blues bar opens in Mt. Prospect

Jake and Elwood had reason to dance Thursday night.

Replicas of the two Blues Brothers doing some of their famous dancing moves looked right at home in Mount Prospect's sleek new Blues Bar, which opened Thursday.

The two-story venue, located on the Northwest corner of Busse Avenue and Main Street in downtown Mount Prospect, drew a steady stream of patrons, including many who asked hostesses if they could be seated "next to the car."

Indeed, a beat-up looking 1974 Mount Prospect police car is the focal point on the second floor, where diners also can look down upon the main floor, the music stage and the 16-by-9-foot television screen, suspended above the bar.

Smaller monitors dot the perimeter of both rooms, highlighted by tiny martini lights -- underscoring its signature drink -- with ice cubes as bulbs.

A vibrant two-story mural, featuring famous Chicago blues singers, lights up the staircase going up to the bar's private dining area, while the same mural artists painted the bar's corner turret, which is one of the building's key attractions from the outside.

During Thursday night's opening, a group called "Two Hip Squares" played the first half of the evening, then entertainer Joanne Graham closed out the night.

The bar will remain open until 1 a.m. on weeknights and close at 2 a.m. on weekends.

Many of the early patrons had come after work to check out the bar, which had been in the works for two and a half years and is considered the springboard for Mount Prospect's new entertainment district.

"I'm thrilled, it has a downtown feeling in Mount Prospect," said Jim Korinek, who works in Arlington Heights and lives in River Forest. "It fits the whole rejuvenation plans they have for the downtown area here." Arlington Heights resident Adam Balboa agreed, saying the chance to hear live entertainment drew his interest.

"I hope it brings in some major talent," Balboa said.

Diners on Thursday said they liked the feel of the place, with its exposed brick, multi-level seating, track lighting, and images from the movie peppering the walls.

"I like it," said Jinnie Hwang of Bloomingdale. "It's got a bluesy bar feeling, but still there's lots of families here."

Owner Errol Oztekin, a Mount Prospect dentist and developer, said the response has been positive to the new venue.

"It's a good crowd tonight," Oztekin said. "It's just what I expected."