It’s a little bit old school and nostalgia and a lot modern, sleek and upscale. It’s a bit of a downtown vibe in the suburbs. It’s a place where you can kick back and sip or liven up and jam. You can watch the experts create crafted cocktails or try your hand at making your own. Copper Still Martini Lounge & Speakeasy continues to thrive and offer a unique experience for visitors under the new ownership of four partners who re-opened the lounge in January.
Last November, Darren Davis of Homewood became one of the new owners of the popular spot at Ridge Road and Dixie Highway and is continuing the atmosphere that customers have come to love.
“First and foremost Copper Still is an upscale martini bar, and that’s what we want to continue to be recognized as in the business,” said Davis. The name was changed slightly since he and his partners took over to Copper Still Martini Lounge & Speakeasy. Additional partners are Lovise Jiles, Sonya Ivory and Reginald Cotton.
The speakeasy theme that has created so much buzz will be carried on.
“The theme is solid and part of the foundation and character of the business,” said Davis.
One component that they’ve taken and tried to build on and elevate even further is the entertainment.
“We have also broadened the types and styles of musical entertainment that we provide on a weekly basis,” Davis explained. “We’ve started booking established popular bands that have never had the opportunity to play in the south suburbs. The Homewood-Flossmoor area has great restaurants, but why should we have to go to the northside or downtown Chicago to see fantastic live entertainment? Let’s bring the entertainment to the Homewood-Flossmoor area and the people will come. The proof is in the pudding with 48 straight sell-out shows this year alone.”
Davis said that they’ve made purchasing tickets easy by going to the event calendar online at www.copperstillmartini.com. There you can select a show and follow a link to ticketfalcon.com to complete your ticket purchase.
You can see live music at the venue each Thursday and most Sundays. There’s also occasional live music or a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. Wednesday is Ladies’ Night with $8 martinis and some live entertainment on occasion. The business is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“I was a daily customer at the previous establishment. It had a really cool vibe and a touch of class that was reminiscent of going to an upscale martini bar in downtown Chicago. The staff was awesome, service was great and the drinks were incredible. The live entertainment was fantastic and at the time was sorely missing in the Homewood-Flossmoor area,” said Davis. “My cousin, businessman, part-owner and longtime Flossmoor resident Lovise Jiles and I used to sit at the bar and imagine what we would do if we owned it. We had no idea that in couple years we would be owners.”
“We used to be patrons and loved the community atmosphere and it being kind of a ‘Cheers’ neighborhood bar, so when the opportunity came up it was a no-brainer because we wanted to keep it open,” Jiles said.
Besides musical entertainment, martini-making classes are offered about twice a month, and a spot in the class can be reserved online. A food menu of wraps, salads, sliders and other casual bites is available.
Ivory, who is also a cousin to Davis and Jiles had been to the location in the past to see some of the live music and is happy to be a part of the team to keep this unique location alive.
“There has been a large variety of bands and DJs. It’s a safe, positive environment with great customer service where you can relax with a cocktail,” she said.
The live music is performed in the downstairs speakeasy called the “Blind Tiger” where a secret lever in what looks like a wine wall opens for guests to enter. Inside is a lounge with stage area and seating for about 60. The space is available for rental for private events. Upstairs are two rooms with a main bar and plenty of table and loveseat seating.
For more information on the venue and events, visit copperstillmartini.com and follow Copper Still Martini Lounge & Speakeasy on Facebook and @copperstillmartinilounge on Instagram.