Rosemont country megabar to open with Frankie Ballard
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct that the bar will be Bub City's and Joe's first joint venture in the suburbs.
Singer Frankie Ballard will be the headliner Feb. 25 when the new country-inspired joint venture of Bub City and Joe's Bar on Weed Street will open in Rosemont's entertainment district, officials announced Monday.
Ballard, whose hits include "Young & Crazy" and "Sunshine & Whiskey," will be followed by fellow country performers Chris Janson on Feb. 27, Old Dominion on March 1, and Jamey Johnson on March 3.
The Bub City/Joe's venue was chosen by Rosemont officials in October to occupy the 35,000-square-foot space at MB Financial Park after the abrupt closing of previous tenant Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.
The new country megabar represents the first joint venture in the suburbs between the two Chicago brands. Bub City is operated by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, and Joe's Bar has established itself as a country music destination in Lincoln Park.
"We just kind of loved what was happening (in the entertainment district)," managing partner Jerrod Melman told the Daily Herald last month. "It's a tremendous opportunity to do something fun there."
Two-thirds of the Rosemont venue will be occupied by Joe's Live stage, featuring "weekly lineups of country music's biggest names, up-and-comers, local talent, DJs, and more," according to a news release.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $36 and can be purchased at joesliverosemont.com.
Attached to the music venue, Bub City will be open for dinner, and eventually weekday lunch, with a barbecue menu of house-smoked meats, fried chicken and burgers.
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill closed Oct. 15 in the midst of eviction proceedings. It's one of several Toby Keith's across the country that shut its doors after failing to pay rent or taxes. Keith, the country music star, has a license agreement with bar owner Boomtown Entertainment for use of his name.
The country bar had been one of the anchor tenants of MB Financial Park since it opened in 2012.