If there’s one trend most bar and club owners were happy to see in 2002, it’s that people still wanted to go out.
The economy might have continued its slide, but folks still found enough change in their couch cushions for a night out on the town. That usually meant becoming more savvy about what they were drinking.
“People’s expendable income isn’t what it used to be, so now they’re smarter with their entertainment dollars,” says Ed Suqi, co-owner of Sugar (108 W. Kinzie St. 312-822-9999). “People drank a lot less. But when they did buy drinks, they wanted to drink something nice.”
Suqi, along with other club owners, said the drink of choice was still a martini, but people were ordering them with Belvedere and Gray Goose, both high-end vodkas.
Drinkers were also more picky when it came to champagnes, says Kathryn Sullivan Alvera, co-owner of Domaine (1045 N. Rush St. 312-397-1045). While Veuve Clicquot and Moet & Chandon remained popular choices, clubbers started requesting boutique champagnes, including Pierre Peters and Camille Saves.
Even beer drinkers were reaching for the top shelf in 2002. Dominic O’Mahony, co-owner of Garrett Ripley’s (712 N. Clark St. 312-642-2900), says that Stella Artois was the bar’s top-selling beer, besting Bud Light.
