New Elgin sports, piano bar opens Friday
D Hangout Bar and Grill is set to have its grand opening today after securing approval for a sports bar and piano bar on different floors.
The eatery at 550 S. McLean Blvd. was formerly Streets of Chicago and Dieterle's Restaurant Lounge. It had been vacant since 2011.
Plans for the piano bar had been on hold because Elgin city officials initially deemed the property's 112 parking spots insufficient to serve the combined clientele of the sports and piano bars.
However, the parking was ultimately deemed sufficient since the piano bar will only operate after 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, when the sports crowd will have died down, Elgin Community Development Director Marc Mylott said.
“The zoning ordinance has provisions for shared parking. One will be ramping up when the other is ramping down,” Mylott said.
Former professional wrestler Mike Deol and his partners, Noel Lara, Jose Arboleda Jr. and Florentino Delcarmen, all of Streamwood, are leasing the Elgin property.
Deol, 44, who retired in 2004, went by the ring name Killer Khalsa Sing and mostly performed with Windy City Pro Wrestling and the former World Wrestling All-Stars. He took part in two World Wrestling Entertainment matches, and appeared in the 2002 movie “Bollywood/Hollywood.”
The opening of the new establishment was delayed by a week for approval of the piano bar, Deol said.
“I'm happy to be accommodated by the city and by the mayor, and being welcomed to the city of Elgin,” he said. “I'm looking forward to doing business here.”
The grand opening starts at 5 p.m. with an invitation-only ribbon cutting.
At 7 p.m., the doors will open to the general public, and there will be raffles and door prizes, Deol said.
Former wrestler Melissa Coates and wrestling twins Steve Gligorovic and Larry Gligorovic, known as Heaven & Hell and Twin Turbos, will sign autographs at the grand opening, Deol said.
“They are good friends of mine,” he said.
The twins wrestled for the American Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Zone.
Coates wrestled for !Bang! and Women Superstars Uncensored.
Pianist John Jones, who regularly performs at Big Shot Piano Lounge & Restaurant in Arlington Heights, will entertain in the piano bar.