Lake Bluff Brewing Company's summer block parties filled the Village Green and East Scranton Avenue with lawn chairs. On September 12, the brewery held its annual Oktoberfest Block Party, and that turned out to be its last day open at 16 East Scranton Avenue.
The block now heads into its first holiday season in 15 years without the brewery. A new tenant has its approvals but no opening date. The block's biggest December weekend is still on the calendar, because the groups that run it have never depended on one storefront.
Fifteen Years at 16 East Scranton
Lake Bluff Brewing opened at 16 East Scranton Avenue in March 2011. The Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported that the brewery's 15-year lease ended earlier this year and the space went to another tenant. Owners Mike and Megan Dorneker told the outlet the move "was not our choice."
Over those years the taproom hosted weddings, graduations, baby showers, after-work get-togethers and new-home celebrations, according to the owners. The Scanner also published photos of St. Patrick's Day crowds with Irish dancers outside the front door.
The Dornekers have said they are looking for a new space in Lake Bluff. As of October 1, the Lake Forest Journal reported that no new location or reopening timeline had been announced. The brewery's website still shows the old address and hours, so don't rely on it if you're planning a visit.
What the Village Approved for the Space
The new tenant is Bluffs Pub, operated by Bluff's Bar & Grill LLC. It moved through Village Hall quickly this fall. On September 28, the Village Board passed first readings of a special-use ordinance for the pub and an ordinance raising the number of Class U liquor licenses. At that meeting, Police Chief Matt Smizinski recommended issuing the license to Kevin Somogyi. On October 12, the board passed the second readings. Staff told the applicants that night's votes completed the approvals they needed to operate, subject to conditions.
Here is what the public record says about the pub so far:
- Concept: A sports-themed bar and restaurant with a small menu cooked on a ventless-hood kitchen. The applicants told the village the building's walls and structure would stay as they are.
- Atmosphere: The plan is family- and sports-friendly, with a children's menu, more TVs and live music. No beer will be brewed on site.
- Outdoor seating: The board approved seasonal outdoor dining from April 1 through November 30, with extensions possible for weather. The pub is responsible for cleaning, keeping a clear path for pedestrians and having staff supervise the area whenever it's in use.
- Opening: The applicants have aimed to open "by the holidays or around the new year" and noted that industry delays could push that back. No firm date has been set.
The patio window matters for this year. Outdoor service ends November 30, before any December event on the Green. So even if Bluffs Pub opens before the holidays, its first outdoor season on Scranton will begin April 1, 2027.
At a September 16 meeting, Citizen Portal reported, applicant Samantha Samoji said the owners grew up locally and want the space to feel like "home" for residents and families. The team also said it plans to bring back community programming the brewery used to host, including block parties and live music. Village staff walked them through the special-event permit process those gatherings require.
So the new tenant sees the block parties as something it would need to rebuild. That is a fair way to think about it, because the biggest weekend on the block has always been run by other groups.
The Holiday Weekend Was Never One Tenant's to Host
Lake Bluff's big December weekend falls on December 5 and 6. Neither day depends on a business at 16 East Scranton. The Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis, the Park District, the public library and the Lake Bluff History Museum run it, and most of it happens on Scranton or within a few blocks.
Saturday, December 5
The Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce lists "It's a Wonderful Life in Lake Bluff!" for the afternoon downtown.
- Morning: The Chamber's listing has a Kiwanis pancake breakfast with Santa at Grace United Methodist Church from 7 a.m. to noon. The Lake Bluff Park District's registration page lists its Breakfast with Santa at the same church, 244 E. Center St., from 11 to 11:50 a.m. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door, and proceeds go to local children's charities. If you're going for the 11 a.m. Santa slot, sign up through the Park District listing.
- Noon to 5 p.m.: Festive activities at the Lake Bluff Public Library.
- 3 to 5 p.m.: A holiday artisan and craft market on Scranton Avenue next to the Village Green.
- 4 to 5 p.m.: Holiday music.
- 5 p.m.: The Lighting of the Orbs on the Lake Bluff Village Green.
The orb lighting isn't new. Village Board minutes from 2020 already list "gazebo/orbs lighting" as part of that year's December 5 holiday celebration.
Sunday, December 6
The Lake Bluff History Museum's Holiday Home Tour runs from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with check-in at 127 E. Scranton Ave. The day includes a holiday boutique. The museum encourages tour-goers to stop at downtown shops, cafes and pubs along the way, so its guests end up on the same block.
Over those two days, Scranton Avenue hosts the craft market, the music, the orb lighting next door and the home-tour check-in. Every one of those events is run by a civic group or nonprofit. A storefront changing hands affects where people grab a drink before or after.
Where to Eat and Drink on the Block in December
Maevery Public House, at 20 East Scranton Avenue, is next door to the former brewery space and on the same stretch as the market and the home-tour check-in.
Bluffs Pub could be open by the first weekend of December, or it could open after New Year's. The applicants have given only a window, and the patio rules mean any December service will be indoors. If you're planning around it, check closer to the date.
Getting Downtown Before Then
Construction is the near-term issue. The Village's October 16 Green Bay Road update says the reconstruction should be nearly finished within 30 days. Paving was scheduled for the week of October 26, with closures one block at a time from West Center Avenue to West Hawthorne Court during grading and paving prep. That puts the work right around this week. If you usually come into downtown from that side, expect closures to shift from block to block for a few more days.
Lake Bluff Brewing's owners are still looking for a space in the village. Bluffs Pub has its approvals and has said it wants to bring back block parties. The Lighting of the Orbs on the Village Green is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.
Changes like this one, a long-term tenant leaving and a newcomer taking over a familiar corner, affect what owning a home near downtown Lake Bluff is like from day to day. If you're thinking about how changes on East Scranton could affect a sale or purchase near the Village Green, Deena Allie can help you sort through it. Schedule a Consultation, and we'll go over what's changing downtown and what it means for your plans.
