Create the best late night Bar/Restaurant! Rockit Ranch bought Martini Ranch. You choose the concept Chicago! (update by Billy Dec)

UPDATE 10/19/12- THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! The most voted for concept for our next venue was a play on a “Mexican Dive Bar” at 39% of the votes- so as of right now, we will proceed now in that direction!!!!! Please help us spread the word to hire the best staff for this project, and for positions available at our other Restaurants/Bars/Nightclubs…at our Open Call for Jobs this Monday 10/22/12 from 2p-530p at Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard). See: http://bit.ly/SAOFyP & email HR@RockitRanch.com for info.

Thank you all so much for your valuable input! More to come!***

Surprise!  We found a unique opportunity and bought Martini Ranch!  Not only is it one of the few 4am licenses left in the city, and walking distance from our other River North properties Sunda, Dragon Ranch, Underground & Rockit, but tons of Chicagoans from all over (like my partners Brad Young, Arturo Gomez & I) have meaningful history enjoying this local gem w/friends for the last 20+ years! Haha- I even was a bouncer there when I was 21!

So… now what? What should we do with it?  We figured you all have been so critical to our success with your insightful & caring suggestions on what we can  do to serve you better, that we thought we’d let you have a say too! We’d probably open it around the new year, just in time to send our late night crowd & employees there from Underground, while we give UG a fresh new look during the slower winter months of 2013. Which means we need to know what route to take now! 

[poll id="3"]

We will tally all votes and announce our decision in early October!  Thanks all and spread the word to all your friends via Twitter, Facebook, email (please use share buttons here too).. we want to hear what they think too!

AND since we are growing- WE ARE HIRING! Positions include experienced Servers, Bartenders, Managers, Hosts, Security, Cooks, Sous Chefs, Mixologists… At Rockit, Sunda, Underground, Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ and whatever this new concept will be! Email HR@RockitRanch.com if interested!

Tags: 4am, arturo gomez, Bar, Best, billy dec, brad young, chicago, Dive Bar, Dragon Ranch, facebook, late night, Martini Ranch, New concept, restaurant, river north, rockit, rockit ranch productions, sunda, the underground, twitter, Voting

Bike-in Movie Nights are Back!

Tags: 1550 bar, Bar, benefit, Bikes, city farm, lincoln park, Movie, new belgium, night, non-profit, rooftop, summer, warm, weather, whole foods

Taking Chicago on a Style Exploration

There is a new company that’s making a splash even before their June 14th launch; ShopAround Chicago, the brainchild of CEO and Style Maven Sean Krista. Alongside partner Shontelle Watson, they have mapped out a trifecta of chic walking tours throughout the neighborhoods of Wicker Park, Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast.

ShopAround Chicago saw the need to highlight and celebrate local boutiques and make Chicago fashion recognizable to locals and tourists. You can go on a “style exploration” at the ShopAround Chicago Launch Party & Shop Party on Thursday June 14^th from 6-9 pm on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The event is free and you’ll be whisked away by Krista and a knowledgeable Style Guide to find hidden gems beyond compare! Guests will receive bags filled with specialty items from local shops and a 10% discount on items purchased during the event. Boutique spa Buff Beauty will host a beautiful brow bar & drinks will be provided by Frankie Scaloppine restaurant.

ShopAround Chicago’s mission is to ensure that people “fall in love with the story behind each shop, learn more about the products they carry and leave with bags full of spoils and smile on their faces”. With the backdrop of our city’s energy along with the ladies haute know-how, that won’t be very hard to do.

If you’re planning on attending email rsvp@shoparoundchicago.com

Like ShopAround Chicago on Facebook and follow them on Twitter

So remember to “shop Local, shop Smart and always ShopAround!

-Sean Krista

Tags: 900 shops, Bar, Boutique spa Buff Beauty, ceo, chicago, cocktails, fashion, food, Frankie Scaloppine, Gold Coast, launch, lincoln park, magnificent mile, Michigan, open, sean krista, Shontelle Watson, shoparound, style, style maven, wicker park

Billy Dec of Rockit Ranch Productions to be Creative Consultant of Pump Room Bar at Ian Schrager new PUBLIC Chicago

I struck up a friendship and mutual admiration with hotelier Ian Schrager over the last year and he asked me and our Rockit Ranch Productions team to help him as his Creative Consultant for the Pump Room Bar on his newest project PUBLIC Chicago.  For details see http://www.PublicHotels.com .. Also, this exciting project is HIRING NOW!!! Email careers@publichotels.com if interested ASAP.  More info to come!!!!!!

Tags: Bar, billy dec, Creative Consultant, Hotelier, hotels, Ian Schrager, Ian Schrager Company, Jobs, New York, Public, Public Chicago, Pump Room, rockit ranch productions