Its advertisements read, "Meet your next best friend here." And it's true—many a friendship has begun at the Huettenbar, one of Lincoln Square's beloved gathering places. In fact, it has earned a reputation as a place to meet your future spouse. The story goes that quite a few Huettenbar regulars have tied the knot. "You can meet a lot of nice people here," explains Irma Froehlich, proprietor since 1985. "A lot of people who meet here end up getting married. One of our bartenders, Brian, proposed to his girlfriend here." So what is it about the Huettenbar's cozy chalet atmosphere that inspires lifelong relationships? Well, that frequently-used word in Lincoln Square really does apply here: the Huettenbar has Gemütlichkeit. "It's a big, long German word that means comfort, coziness, warmth, and a feeling of belonging," says Irma. "You can be yourself here." It also has a lot to do with Irma and the outstanding staff she hires. Irma treats her staff and customers like family, and like the lady of the house, she runs a tight ship. She credits Harry Kempf of the Chicago Brauhaus with giving her a solid piece of advice when she bought the bar. "Harry was a great help," recalls Irma. "He told me, 'You set the tone of your place.' So I've always followed my instincts and it's served me well."
From the moment you walk into the Huettenbar, there's a warm, homey atmosphere that evokes a European ski lodge. If you have an active imagination, the painting behind the bar could be windows overlooking the Alps. Wooden beams and a wooden ceiling lend a rustic feel. Everything is covered in an amber glow, courtesy of the lamp-like lighting. The bar's eclectic jutebox gives a nod to its German roots with some popular polkas and folk tunes, along with some mellow Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin classics. Occasionally you might find someone dancing to some modern music. In the summer, it's impossible to pass by without hearing the laughter and music from the Huettenbar's open windows, surrounded by window boxes always spilling over with flowers. The most coveted spaces in the bar are the two front tables during the warmer seasons. "One of the best things I ever did was open up those windows," says Irma. "When I bought the place, the front was all closed up with stained glass windows. As soon as I opened it up, people were curious and stopped in to see what type of business it was."
If you've ever been to Germany, the Huettenbar fits the bill of a "Kleine Kniepe," or small neighborhood pub that's popular with the locals. One of the reasons why it's so famous is that it's an authentic German bar. Unlike some Chicago bars that brand themselves ethnic with a coat of paint and a name, the Huettenbar is the real deal. "We typically sell almost all German drafts," explains Irma. "Spaten is always one of our best sellers." German beer lovers will also enjoy a variety of choices on tap including Würzburger Hofbräu Pilsner, Julius Echter Weissbier and BBK Kaiser. "One of my favorite beers that I recommend, especially in the cooler season, is the Kutscher Alt," says Irma. "It's a beautiful dark ale that's top-fermented in the old style of brewing to give the beer a fresh, aromatic taste." For those who prefer spirits, a world of special German schnapps and liqueurs are available in fruit to herbal flavors. Apfelkorn is a popular apple schnapps, while Obstler fruit brandy combines pears with apples. Adventurous drinkers can try a shot of the Goldwasser, a spiced citrus liqueur with flakes of 22k gold that has been made in Germany since 1598. (Yes, that's 1598, not 1958.) In addition to a Jaeger Bomb, you can try a "K-Bomb" made with the sweet, herbal Kabanes. Or there's the Escorial, a 110 proof herbal drink with a light green hue. Hanging from the wall like a belt full of ammunition is the Underberg in its single-size portions. "That's very good after a heavy meal," recommends Irma. "Germans like to eat lots of pork, and this is what you'd drink afterwards."
 Where the Huettenbar is located has been a bar for many years, with German roots that run deep. "It was originally Weiss Liquors, which was owned by a widow who raised her son while running the bar," recalls Irma. "There was a liquor store up front with glass display cases and the bar was in the back." A German couple that bought the bar in 1956 was responsible for creating the chalet atmosphere and naming it the Huettenbar. Harry and Guenter Kempf of the Chicago Brauhaus bought the bar and then sold it to Irma in 1985. "We just had our 21st anniversary in August of last year," she says.
Born in Europe to parents who were German nationals living in Croatia, Irma came to the US with her family. They moved to Chicago and lived above the famous German restaurant, the Golden Ox. When Irma was 10, they moved to a house on Giddings Street. Her mother, Resi, worked as a cook for Harry at Treffpunkt and then at the Chicago Brauhaus. "My mother worked at the Brauhaus until she was 80," says Irma. "She just turned 98 in December. She's got staying power." As an adult, Irma moved away from the neighborhood and worked downtown as a production artist for an audio-visual company. "Back then we made presentations, all with 35mm slides," she says. When she was ready for a change, she moved back to her house on Giddings and started thinking about what she wanted to do next. "What inspired me was when Café Selmarie opened," recalls Irma. "I didn't know Birgit or Jeanne at the time, but I just thought it was so courageous that two young women opened their own business. I thought that it would be nice to have my own little business in the neighborhood." At times, she doubted her decision. "I had never worked in a bar before I bought this place," she says. "It was such a big change for me." It helped that Irma could speak German, since many of her customers in those early days were German. She also can understand Croatian. "My mom and dad spoke Croatian to each other when I was growing up," says Irma.
From those early days to now, the Huettenbar has not only survived, but thrived. The clientele has evolved with the neighborhood. It's a bit younger than before, as now she serves people who are second-generation Germans and who were children when Irma bought the bar. "It used to be that my customers were so much older than me," laughs Irma. "Now I'm so much older than them." Regardless of their ages, Irma's favorite thing about running the bar is the people she meets—both her customers and those she hires as her staff. In all the years Irma has been in business, she has had surprisingly few employees. Those who work for her tend to like their jobs and stay a while. The Huettenbar's current staff is a veritable United Nations. Adam is of Czech decent and moved to Chicago from Nebraska. Julia has a German background and spends her spare time on a roller derby team. Brian is South Side Chicago Irish and now lives in Lincoln Square. Lorien's family is Norwegian. Irma's longtime employee, Susie, who is also of German heritage worked at the Huettenbar for ten years and is now home with her two children. "I love the people here, especially the regulars," says Irma. "They are all like my family. I get really attached to them."
The Huettenbar is the site of many birthday parties, celebrations and pub crawls. (It's always a stop on the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce Pub Crawls.) It's also a favorite destination during the May Fest and German-American Fest. This month, Irma will be hosting a special "Love is in the Air" event for Valentine's Day on Wednesday, February 14. "We are dedicating this event to all of our friends past and present who have met at the bar and developed meaningful and long lasting relationships," explains Irma. "Father Terry Keenan from St. Matthias will be there to give a prayer and blessing for all." Make sure to come and enjoy a Cupid's Arrow, a featured cocktail made from vodka and pomegranate juice. Just the potion—and atmosphere—to meet the person of your dreams. Say hello to Irma when you stop by.
Huettenbar
4721 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.561.2507
Hours:
Monday - Friday 2:00pm - 2:00am
Saturday - Sunday 12:00pm - 2:00am
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