The Market Days Salad at Gunny’s Pub brings together bitter greens, locally sourced apples, Prairie Breeze cheddar, roasted almonds, and a champagne mustard vinaigrette—showcasing the establishment’s commitment to seasonal, Midwestern takes on classic dishes.
Gunny’s roasted bone marrow presents layers of rich, buttery marrow paired with deeply savory mushroom XO, onion honey jam, and sea salt, all served alongside toasted sourdough for savoring every bite.
Newly independent pub launches within a restored 145-year-old structure as significant water main work keeps Lincoln Avenue shut down.
It seems the last hurdle to opening a Chicago bar is having the city take away the road directly outside it.”— Mary Nedbalski, co-owner of Gunny’s Pub
CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, August 28, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Gunny’s Pub will welcome its first guests at 2642 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park, introducing a newly launched, independently owned neighborhood eatery and bar that offers carefully prepared pub fare, timeless cocktails, and a clear Midwestern character to a historic Lincoln Avenue space—even as ongoing construction blocks the street to passing vehicles.
The journey to opening Gunny’s has spanned over a year, with married co-owners Mary Nedbalski and Marty O’Connor taking on the restoration and reimagining of the roughly 145-year-old property into a contemporary neighborhood pub that retains the spirit of Chicago’s tavern heritage.
Gunny’s menu adopts a familiar-first strategy, combining easy-to-love pub staples with more adventurous offerings and tributes to Midwestern foraging and hunting traditions. Ingredients tied to the seasons and regional game birds like duck and pheasant are woven into the food lineup, along with selections designed to make Gunny’s a go-to spot for midday meals, dinners, or late-evening visits.
The bar program mirrors this straightforward philosophy: mastering the classics. Martinis, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and other well-known cocktails are crafted with precision and top-tier ingredients, alongside signature creations influenced by seasonal and Midwestern tastes. Beer and wine complete a drink menu that aims to be refined yet unpretentious.
The ambiance of the venue transforms as guests make their way through. The front section captures the lively, welcoming vibe of a traditional neighborhood pub, while the back opens into a verdant, plant-adorned dining area underneath a striking 20-by-20-foot skylight.
Gunny’s launch coincides with an unforeseen hurdle for the nearby business district. The stretch of Lincoln Avenue between Diversey Parkway and Wrightwood Avenue remains shut to through traffic while the Chicago Department of Water Management carries out a significant water main replacement initiative. The work was initially slated to finish by early October, though the construction timeline could shift.
“Apparently the final step in opening a Chicago bar is having the city remove the street in front of it,” Nedbalski remarked. “It definitely wasn’t on the opening checklist, but we’ve spent the last year building a place we hope becomes part of this neighborhood for a very long time. We’re opening Sept. 16, construction cones and all.”
Instead of postponing its debut, Gunny’s is leaning into the chaos with a straightforward stance: The road may be closed, but the neighborhood remains open for business.
“We didn’t build Gunny’s to be somewhere people visit once because it’s new,” Nedbalski said. “We want it to become the place you stop for lunch, bring a friend for a martini, wander into after work or end up staying longer than you planned. That only works if we’re genuinely part of the neighborhood around us.”
Gunny’s Pub officially opens Wednesday, Sept. 16, located at 2642 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago’s Lincoln Park area.
About Gunny’s Pub
Gunny’s Pub is an independently owned neighborhood restaurant and bar at 2642 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park. Set inside a restored 145-year-old building, Gunny’s blends the warmth of a classic Midwestern pub with thoughtful food, carefully made cocktails and a few unexpected touches. The menu features familiar pub favorites, seasonal ingredients and regional wild game, while the space moves from a lively front bar to a lush rear dining room beneath a 20-by-20-foot skylight.
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Mary Nedbalski
Gunny's Pub
+1 440-539-8560
email us here
