Bar Louie estimates 5,000 served in first week

Feb. 8, 2012 – After 1300 martinis, the local marketing manager for Bar Louie says they are “blown away” by traffic so far to their newest location at Marina City.

Bar Louie opened on February 1 at 10 a.m. after three days of practice to “friends and family.” Over its first weekend, the River North bar/restaurant sold more than 1,300 martinis and estimates it served 5,000 customers in its first week.

(Left) Bar Louie on North Dearborn Street on the west side of the Marina City complex. (Click on image to view larger version.)

“We saw familiar faces of suburban regulars who came out to see the newest addition to the Bar Louie family,” says Katie Nelson, Chicago Marketing Manager for BL Restaurant Operations LLC. The Texas-based company owns 51 Bar Louie restaurants nationwide.

(Above) Bar Louie General Manager Tom Duffey (left) and CEO John Neitzel on February 1, the restaurant’s first official day.

In the long tradition of offering discounts to Marina City residents, Bar Louie announced this week it would participate. “We will be giving a 15 percent discount to residents to start with,” Nelson said on Tuesday. “We might come up with some other creative offers down the road.”

All of the restaurants and bars at Marina City, with the exception of Smith & Wollensky and Subway, offer discounts to residents. 10pin Bowling Lounge offers 20 percent off food and 50 percent off bowling. BIN 36 gives a 15 percent discount, and Dick’s Last Resort provides a 20 percent discount.

House of Blues offers numerous discounts to Marina City residents that include 10 percent off food at Crossroads Restaurant. Hotel Sax has on occasion offered special pricing to residents.

 Related story: Bar Louie still “go” for Wednesday opening