New Cocktail Lounge Set To Open In Former Bike Rack Storefront

OSWEGO, IL — The old firehouse in downtown Oswego, formerly occupied by The Bike Rack, is being transformed into a new cocktail lounge.

Bay 54 is the latest venture from A2T Hospitality, the team that operates The Lewis in St. Charles. The bar will reside in the original engine bay at 57 Main St., making its name a nod to the circa 1954 building's legacy, the team said.

"But here's the thing — Bay 54 isn't The Lewis in Oswego," the establishment wrote in an announcement on Facebook. "It's a whole new vibe. Where The Lewis leans into the 1970s, Bay 54 draws its soul from a different place — think more timeless lounge than retro revival. Deep tones, leather, brass, and bourbon — a bit more refined, a little moodier, but still warm, welcoming, and very us."

Dan Thomas, owner of A2T, explained at the July 15 Village Board meeting that the hospitality group focuses on guest experience, meaning rather than packing a place with a rowdy weekend crowd, staff ensure guests have space to relax and enjoy their drinks.

"Our goal is to create a welcoming and warm environment, somewhere that you can melt into your seat and enjoy your time there," he said. "We are not serving shots; we are not packing the place."

He added: "We just want to bring a concept that's going to bring people and bring nightlife down here in a responsible and respectful manner."

"They've looked at a few spaces in town and did find this location actually before we knew The Bike Rack was vacating; they knew about it and started working with the property owner, Art Black, to backfill that space," Economic Development Director Kevin Leighty said at the July 15 Village Board meeting.

The Bike Rack announced in late June that its final day in business would be July 15, citing "challenges in finding enough staff to operate," Patch reported.

Leighty said that since 57 Main St. has historically been a retail space, there is "quite a bit of work" that is required to bring it up to code for an eating or drinking establishment.

To help offset the "high building material and construction costs," the Village Board unanimously voted July 15 to approve a request from Bay 54 for $32,628 in loan funding and $38,580 in grant funding, according to village documents.

At the time of the request, the Revolving Loan Fund had $237,186 in its reserve, and the Economic Development Incentive Award Program had a balance of $76,398. The total budget for the Bay 54 project is $142,418, which includes costs for the design and construction of the building as well as the purchase of all necessary equipment.

The cocktail lounge is expected to open in late fall or early winter, according to the team.

As the business becomes profitable in a year and a half to two years, Thomas said the team plans to build out the second floor of the firehouse to expand Bay 54 and potentially put in a kitchen for small bites. Until then, guests will be able to bring in carry-out meals from neighboring restaurants.