Chicago’s dog parents are about to get a new place to burn off some serious puppy energy. Zoomies is poised to open as the city’s first indoor dog park and bar, turning a former Avondale warehouse into a year-round off-leash playground where dogs and humans can both hang out in climate-controlled comfort.
The plan calls for separate play zones for big and small dogs, along with grooming, daycare and boarding services under the same roof. Up front, there will be a cafe and a full bar so owners can grab a drink while their pups run laps and make new friends.
Zoomies is taking over 3455 N. Elston Ave., a roughly 24,000-square-foot warehouse on the block between Addison and Roscoe. The project cleared a key hurdle when City Council agreed to lift a longstanding liquor moratorium on that stretch, which was necessary for the on-site bar to operate. Alderman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez held a public hearing on the change and, after mostly positive feedback from neighbors, recommended lifting the ban so the concept could move forward, according to Block Club Chicago.
Timeline, Costs And Memberships
Founder Devon Brown is already walking the cavernous space and visualizing dogs everywhere. "I'm feeling good," she said as she toured the building, and told Block Club Chicago that she expects to hire a general contractor soon.
Brown estimates the buildout at about $2.3 million. She anticipates it will take roughly two months to file permits, with construction slated to start in February and a target opening sometime this summer. The pricing model is already sketched out: a base membership around $80 per month, which includes unlimited park access and one nail trim, and day passes near $23 for more casual visitors. Before any of that launches, Brown is hosting an open house for neighbors on Jan. 10 so locals can see the space ahead of construction.
Where Zoomies Fits In Chicago's Pet Scene
Zoomies is tapping into Chicago’s growing market of higher-end dog hangouts. Earlier this year, Pup Social opened in Bucktown as a members-only outdoor club with a bar and grooming services, a concept that got the spotlight treatment from the Chicago Sun-Times. On the North Side, Bosly's Backyard has been offering rentable indoor play sessions in Ravenswood since 2021, with more details laid out on the Bosly's Backyard site.
The buzz around Zoomies has already reached local TV. FOX 32 Chicago recently covered the project, highlighting its claim as the city’s first indoor dog park and bar. The industrial footprint that makes it possible is confirmed in commercial listings for the building, where Realty.com notes the large warehouse layout that will soon be filled with fur, tennis balls and the sound of squeaky toys echoing off the walls.
