Best Buy Donates Appliances to New Cocktail Lounge Neighbor

With the help of a donation from Best Buy, the owners of a new small plates bar on Howard Street are moving closer to their dream of opening the business they'll live above.

On Wednesday, eighth ward Alderman Ann Rainey and Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl held a press conference outside the at 2301 Howard Street to announce the store’s $10,000 donation, to be used in the affordable housing apartments above the new business, called Ward Eight.

Owners Anne Carlson and Cody Modeer, who met at Andersonville’s upscale liquor store In Fine Spirits, plan to open the restaurant/bar in August or September, when construction is complete. They are leasing the building, at 629 West Howard, from the city of Evanston, along with an apartment atop the shop where they will live. 

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Ald. Rainey said she hoped the business opening would be part of a broader revitalization of Howard Street. 

“Watch out, Rogers Park, Howard Street in Evanston is on the rise,” she told news media at the press conference. 

Ward Eight’s building is one of three the city purchased in February 2011 using tax increment financing (TIF) funds from the Howard/Ridge TIF district. Rainey noted that a theater is now planned for one of those buildings, 727-29 Howard Street, while the city is showing the other building to developers interested in opening a restaurant. 

“They said it couldn’t be done, and Howard Street is back,” she said.

Carlson, who brought her 6-month-old daughter to the press conference, said that she and Modeer had been looking for a place to open a cocktail lounge when the owner of In Fine Spirits introduced her to Rainey. The opportunity to have a business they could own and live above was too good to pass up, she said.

Best Buy general manager Steve Smith said the donation was something he had wanted to do for a long time.

“I was very moved by the story,” he said, of Carlson and Modeer. “This is going to be an example of what’s to come in Evanston.” 

Following the press conference, a truck from Best Buy headed half a mile east on Howard to pull in behind Ward Eight’s new storefront. Inside were two brand new refrigerators, two microwaves and two dishwashers to outfit the two apartments above the store.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article contained incorrect information about where the appliances will be installed. We sincerely regret the error.