Tag Archives: Sober Bar

Sober bar opens this weekend in Chicago

A non-alcoholic bottle shop and bar in West Town is opening this weekend, the latest outpost for a growing sober and non-alcoholic scene that’s sprung up in recent years across Chicago.

In Good Spirits, 858 N. Ashland Ave., opens Saturday. It’s co-owned by Adriana Gaspar and Hector Diaz, who launched the brand last year to host sober pop-ups and events around the city.

The store will offer a wide-range of non-alcoholic beers, wines, aperitifs and more, available to take away or to drink in the store’s community space.

Gaspar and Diaz, who are engaged, started In Good Spirits last year after life events led each of them to reexamine their relationships with alcohol.

Gaspar decided to quit drinking after her father died in late 2020 from COVID-19, and Diaz scaled back his alcohol consumption when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and underwent surgery.

The brand quickly took off, and the couple has since hosted events at places like Soho House and Cindy’s Rooftop at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. This spring, Diaz and Gaspar completed a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund the brick-and-mortar location.

After months of planning and remodeling, they’re now ready to welcome in customers who don’t drink or are interested in learning about non-alcoholic options. On top of packaged beers, wines and pre-mixed drinks, they’ll have a rotating menu of handmade cocktails available.

A big part of Gaspar and Diaz’s inspiration behind opening the bottle shop was to create a place where people who are sober, sober-curious or just want to hang out in public without being around alcohol can do so — sometimes a difficult task in Chicago.

Since launching in May 2022, Gaspar and Diaz went from starting a brand from scratch to developing partnerships with venues across Chicago and now opening their own location. Diaz said the reception has been incredibly encouraging for the couple as they look at the future of not only their own business but the entire non-alcoholic community.

In Good Spirits will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 12-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The store is hosting a grand opening party 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday.