The Monarchs’ Club, a new European-style pub, opens today after three months of renovation. The pub, which sits on the corner of 4th and Stocking NW, is housed in an 1893 building that was most recently home to The Wisla polish restaurant. Owner Frank Lehman said the pub’s name honors the building 1920's heritage.
“I looked into the history of the building,” Lehman said. “During Prohibition there was a speakeasy at this location called The Monarchs’ Club. I thought ‘Hey, why not reinvent that name?’”
Originally built as a pharmacy/soda fountain, the building has many original architectural elements that Lehman incorporated into the pub’s design.
“We have the original 1¼-inch thick black glass that the pharmacist used to chop up and package his product,” Lehman said. “We’re reusing it as drink rail. We’ve got the original black and white marble mosaic floor. The exterior has the original black porcelain tile facade.”
The 1,350-square-foot pub has a 12-foot ceiling that is decked out in its original tin ceiling plates. Other period pieces include an 80-year-old back bar mirror from Chicago, and an 80-year-old glass and oak display cooler from Virginia.
“We designed the pub around these pieces,” Lehman said. “We built the bar piece so it looks like it’s been here a while—white oak with burl maple inlay.”
To bring the pub into the 21st century, Lehman added a large screen TV and three smaller TVs. Patrons can enjoy one of the several European or American Craft beers on tap, or one of the high-end wines and bottled beers. Sandwiches, wraps, panninis, salads, and soups are on the menu.
The Grand Opening is scheduled for Friday the 13th (October) at 5 PM.
“I like those weird kinds of dates,” Lehman said with a laugh. “I was born on a 13th, so opening on the 13th kind of fits.”
Source: Frank Lehman, The Monarchs’ Club
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