Twisted Lizard Serves its Last Margarita

Lincoln Park residents craving a margarita can no longer consider Twisted Lizard as an option.

A giant yellow "FOR LEASE" sign was placed in its window before the weekend. The Mexican-style bar and restaurant at 1964 N. Sheffield Ave., near West Armitage, was particularly popular with local university students because of its close proximity to the DePaul campus.

Known for its underground basement setting—in the summer, the outdoor patio—and for serving more than 25 types of tequila, it was a fixture in the neighborhood for two decades.

Bar owners most recently renewed their City of Chicago food and liquor licenses in February 2011, according to the city's data portal. The liquor license was set to expire Feb. 15, 2013 and the food, in March.

A white sign with a Twisted Lizard logo remained taped to the window on Monday.

"The Twisted Lizard would like to sincerely thank our patrons for their business as well as the neighborhood," it says. "It has been a great 20 years! Thank you!!!"

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By the looks of the company's Facebook page and seemingly active website, its Dec. 10 closure was an abrupt one. The site gives no indication that the restaurant is no longer open and the last Facebook post from the bar, dated Nov. 29, was to solicit reservations for New Year's Eve.

It reads:

"Can't make it to Mexico City for NYE this year? We here at the Twisted Lizard will welcome you with open arms! We're now taking reservations for the 31st now! Give us a call!"

Twisted Lizard also offered a Groupon in the late spring, according to reviewers on Yelp! and information on Groupon.com. That offer reportedly expired Oct. 24.

The business' partner locations include North Side bars Kincade's, Kendall's, Kelsey's, O'Donovan's, and Casey Moran's. Employees said Tuesday that the general manager was not available. None knew specifically why Twisted Lizard shuttered its doors, but all admitted that the closure was abrupt. 

Owners are stopping by Kincade's to retrieve their messages, staff said, but do so at their leisure. Therefore, messages seeking more information left Sunday and Monday had not yet been returned on Tuesday.

The general phone number for Twisted Lizard still works but doesn't lead to an answering machine.

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