Western Springs Liquor Shop Opening This Weekend

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A new liquor establishment is opening its doors at noon Saturday in Western Springs, promising "high-end curation," "zero stuffiness" and "just clever sourcing for curious drinkers."

The Clever Drinker, a wine bottle shop, is at 4354 Johnson Ave. It is the same place as The Opry cocktail bar, which closed earlier this year.

The owners of the new business, Western Springs residents Aron Dorner and Alex Corral, plan to focus on retail sales. In a later phase, they want to offer on-site drinking in the form of a "small by-the-glass program."

In April, The Opry, which opened in early 2024, closed after a tough few weeks. The business faced a trademark infringement lawsuit, and the police responded to a fight among employees, with officers saying one was drunk behind the register.