Cuddle Inn
- Neighborhood: Back Of The Yards
- 5317 S. Ashland Ave.
- Chicago, IL 60609
- 773-778-1999
Tommy Thompson (not to be confused with the Wisconsin governor), who has owned Cuddle Inn since 1961, says, "It's frightening how many of the original (South Side music) places like Club DeLisa have gone. That's why we're fighting to keep the blues out here, 'cause to go downtown by the time you pay parking and everything else you spend a C-Note." He says he started booking blues because it's the "most popular music, most practical. I could get blues bands easier than jazz bands, and I keep it up because it's getting more and more popular." Cuddle Inn has hosted some big names. Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Johnny Dollar, Little Milton and McKinley Mitchell have all played there. The current house bands include Johnny Laws and Grown Man Blues Revue. Thompson also helped Ald. Dorothy Tillman start the popular Bring It on Home to Me Roots fest to help raise money for the construction of the Lou Rawls Center (which will serve mostly as a showcase for local talent), on 47th Street and King Drive. The front room ambience is cinder-block sparse, but there's a jukebox featuring blues, R&B and pop; the remodeled back lounge is comfy, and the service is friendly. Be careful outside: The neighborhood can be dangerous for careless visitors. Inside, though, everyone is cuddled together in love of the blues.
Getting There
- Cross Streets:
- Ashland and 53rd Street.
- Parking:
- Street
- Public Transportation:
- CTA Bus: 9-Ashland.
- Wheelchair Access:
- Yes
The Basics
- Hours:
- 7 a.m.-2 a.m. seven days a week.
- Reservations:
- Accepted
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Admission Price:
- $3 for back-room lounge; no cover for outer bar.
- Bar Style:
- Lounge. Chicago classic.
- Music Style:
- Blues
- Recreation and Sports Activities:
- Darts
Features
- Live Music:
- Yes
- Games:
- Pool Tables
- Features:
- No food Just bar snacks.
- Worth Noting:
- Chicago classic.
- Payment Methods:
- American Express, Mastercard, and Visa
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Seating :
- Bar stools; some tables in rear lounge.
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