Nobody’s Darling, a black-owned LGBTQ bar in Andersonville, is looking to expand into the neighboring space at 1746 W. Balmoral Ave.
A year after becoming a James Beard Award finalist and less than two years from debuting, Co-owners Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle are getting ready to take another giant step forward. The two business partners are requesting a zoning change that would allow them to operate a tavern next door. The owners are hoping 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez will issue a level of support, while Chicago’s City Council will consider the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday, January 17, according to Eater Chicago.
“We’ve been surprised by how much this space was needed,” Riddle tells Eater Chicago. “We have people who travel from the South Side and West Side, from Wisconsin and Indiana. We are constantly surprised every week, every month, we’re still seeing new people come through the door.”
If approved, Nobody’s Darling will expand from a capacity of 65 to 110. The new space will be used to create a lounge-type atmosphere with low seating and a smaller second bar. This will come in handy during the winter when no one wants to be outside. This is an impressive goal for Nobody’s Darling, which opened in September 2021. Officials are expected to make an official decision before the end of January. Despite the ongoing decision, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response from locals.
“It’s important for us to continue to have a positive relationship with the community,” Barnes tells Chicago Eater. “It’s our first go-around of running a bar, and we do sit smack-dab in the middle of a residential area. That can be challenging, so we try to be sensitive and make sure we’re being good neighbors.”
