(Above) This space at 335 North Dearborn Street, the former location of Amano Italian Trattoria, is being converted into a Bar Louie, part of a chain of restaurant/bars with a location in the Printer’s Row neighborhood south of the Loop. (Click on image to view larger version.)

 Updated story: January target date for ‘anti-chain’ Bar Louie to open in River North

November 12, 2011 – A 10,000 square foot commercial space vacant at Marina City since March 2010 is getting a new tenant. Bar Louie, a chain of restaurant/bars that describes itself as “casually cool,” is “coming soon” to the 300 block of North Dearborn Street, according to its website.

Erika Buesing, Senior Director of Marketing for BL Restaurant Operations, LLC, owner of Bar Louie, did not return voicemail messages left this week. Last week, a company employee confirmed they were at least looking at the Marina City location.

On October 18, a building permit was issued by the City of Chicago for “interior renovation to existing restaurant tenant space and exterior renovations to existing patio area and storefront.”

With the cost of the renovation estimated at $675,000, the contractor is listed as Don Deibler of Addison, Texas. BL Restaurant Operations is located in Addison, which is in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

According to a notice on the window of the space directly below BIN 36, BL Restaurant Operations, doing business as Bar Louie, applied for a city liquor license on November 7.

On March 5, 2010, Amano Italian Trattoria closed after serving Italian food and wine at the location for two years and five months.