A new women-owned wine bar called Friends & Neighbors is getting ready to move into Bucktown, with a late-summer debut planned for 1861 N. Milwaukee Ave. The concept leans into a neighborhood-first vibe, with a lineup of wine and cocktails, charcuterie and snacks, a small retail section, a big community table, and some to-go bottles for folks who want to bring the party home.
As reported by Block Club Chicago, the bar is the work of nearby residents Arin Butzon and Joy Johns, who live just a few blocks from the future space. Butzon works in financial services, and Johns practices law, and they say they want Friends & Neighbors to feel "approachable, welcoming, inclusive and accessible" rather than stuffy or exclusive.
Why a Wine Bar Still Matters
Chicago's wine-bar scene has thinned out in recent years, leaving fewer low-key neighborhood spots where you can settle in for a simple by-the-glass pour. Chicago magazine has noted that dedicated wine bars have become increasingly scarce, which makes a casual, bottle-forward hangout like Friends & Neighbors a potential missing piece in Bucktown's already busy mix of restaurants and bars.
Founders' Club And Neighborhood Focus
To help finish the buildout, the owners have launched a "founders' club" crowdfunding push, with contribution tiers running roughly from $100 to $1,500. In addition to wine and cocktails, they say they will pour select beer and offer nonalcoholic options. Plans also call for a compact retail area and a large communal table that is meant to draw neighbors together rather than keep them in their own corners. Johns told Block Club Chicago that the bar is geared toward "mid-30s moms and everyday wine drinkers," not just hardcore wine obsessives.
Renovation work is already underway inside the former Red & White storefront, and the pair is aiming to open by Labor Day if all goes according to plan. Along with serving casual pours, they say they hope Friends & Neighbors will broaden who gets represented in Chicago's wine and hospitality world as they lock in a final opening timeline.
