Joe's Bar

What Joe's Bar does

Joe's Bar on Weed St. is a privately held Chicago entertainment venue founded in 1997 in Lincoln Park, operating a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse-style facility that functions simultaneously as a sports bar, live music concert hall, and private event space. The venue features over 100 televisions and HD projectors supporting simultaneous NFL, NCAA, NBA, and NHL game broadcasts, alongside a dedicated concert programming operation that has hosted national touring country music acts including Garth Brooks, Old Dominion, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, and Drake Milligan. Seven distinct event spaces — Chapter Room (3,100 sq. ft.), Clubhouse (8,500 sq. ft.), Lobby, VIP Lounge, Alley Suite, Red Room, and a 3,500 sq. ft. Rooftop built in April 2013 — accommodate groups from 10 to 1,200 guests.

The business operates through five primary revenue streams: (1) ticket sales for concerts and live events priced from $15 GA to $95 VIP distributed through TicketWeb, DICE, and Eventim; (2) full-service food and beverage with a $3–$42 menu spanning shareables, Tex-Mex, wings, pizzas, and craft cocktails; (3) per-person game day table reservations via Tock for groups of 4, 6, 8, or 12; (4) private event rentals covering birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate events, fundraisers, and weddings; and (5) Friday Rooftop Happy Hour (4–8pm) running discounted vodka cocktails and beer. The venue also derives goodwill and brand positioning from recurring charity partnerships with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, Weish4Ever Foundation, and Off The Street Club.

The company's competitive position rests on a 28-year operating history, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards for Nightclub/Club of the Year (most recently 2024 and 2025), and the personal track record of talent buyer Ed Warm, who has won five ACM Promoter of the Year awards plus ACM Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year (2023). Customer concentration is diffuse across consumer sports fans, concert-goers, alumni club members (Fighting Illini, Indiana Hoosiers, Florida Gators, Arkansas Razorbacks, Windy City Riot), and corporate/private event hosts, with no anchor-account dependency. Distribution is omnichannel via walk-in, third-party ticketing platforms, Tock reservations, and direct event inquiries through [email protected]. Partnerships with Chicago radio stations (103.5 KISS FM, Rock 95.5, US99) support event co-promotion.

Name

Joe's Bar

Legal name

Joe's Bar

Website

https://joesbar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Joe's Bar on Weed St. is a privately held Chicago entertainment venue founded in 1997, combining a 20,000 sq. ft. sports bar, live country music concert hall, and seven private event spaces serving sports fans, concert-goers, and corporate/private event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Venue / Sports Bar & Concert Hall

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Bars (CRANACAC), Nightclubs & Dance Clubs (THAFAEAC)

Keywords

• Live music venue
• Sports bar
• Private event hosting
• Country music concerts
• Alumni watch parties

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from advance and day-of-show ticket sales for concerts and live music events. Tickets sold through TicketWeb, DICE, Eventim, and at the door (cash only). Prices range from $15 GA to $65 VIP depending on event.
2. Food & Beverage Sales: Full service bar and restaurant generating revenue from food orders, cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Menu includes shareables, Tex-Mex, wings, pizzas, sandwiches, and desserts.
3. Table Reservations: Per-person reservation fees for game day tables (groups of 4, 6, 8, or 12) through Tock platform. Reservation fee secures table but does not apply toward food/beverage bill.
4. Private Event Rentals: Revenue from hosting private events including birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate events, fundraisers, and weddings in one of seven event spaces accommodating 10 to 1,200 guests.
5. Rooftop Events & Happy Hour: Friday rooftop happy hour (4-8pm) with discounted Weber Ranch Vodka specials, beer, and canned cocktails driving beverage sales during off-peak hours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Joe's Bar operates a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse-style sports bar and live music venue in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, featuring over 100 TVs and HD projectors for simultaneous viewing of NFL, NCAA, NBA, and NHL games. The venue hosts national touring country, rock, and EDM concerts, as well as alumni fan-club watch parties, and rents seven distinct event spaces (Chapter Room, Clubhouse, Lobby, VIP Lounge, Alley Suite, Red Room, Rooftop) for private parties, corporate events, weddings, and fundraisers accommodating 10 to 1,200 guests. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, food and beverage service, per-person reservation fees, and private event rentals.

Product overview

Joe's Bar on Weed St. is a Chicago institution since 1997, operating as a multi-faceted entertainment venue combining a sports bar, live music concert hall, and private event space. The venue spans 20,000 square feet near Lincoln Park and features over 100 televisions with HD projectors for simultaneous sports viewing. The venue operates seven distinct event spaces (Chapter Room, Clubhouse, Lobby, VIP Lounge, Alley Suite, Red Room, and Rooftop) accommodating groups from 10 to 1,200 people. Joe's Bar offers full food and beverage service including shareables, Tex-Mex, wings, pizzas, craft cocktails, and extensive beer selection. The venue hosts both ticketed concerts featuring national touring acts and local musicians, as well as free events. Ticket sales are facilitated through TicketWeb, Dice.fm, and Eventim, while game day reservations use the Tock/Exploretock platform. The venue is recognized with 8 Academy of Country Music Awards for Club/Nightclub of the Year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Music Concerts
• Sports Viewing
• Private Event Hosting
• Food and Beverage Service
• Friday Rooftop Happy Hour
• The Chapter Room (Private Event Space)
• The Clubhouse (Main Concert Hall)
• The Rooftop (Outdoor Event Space)
• VIP Lounge
• The Alley Suite
• The Red Room
• The Lobby

Quantifiable outcome

• 8-time Academy of Country Music Award winner
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joe's ConcertscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated venue/brand operated by same ownership in Chicago, IL. Partner venue for concerts and live music events.
• Joe's LivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated venue/brand operated by same ownership in Rosemont, IL. Partner for live music events in the Chicago metro area.
• Carol's PubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner venue listed on Joe's Bar website, located in Rosemont, IL.
• Bub CityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner venue with locations in Chicago and Rosemont, IL. Listed as partner venue on Joe's Bar website.
• Windy City SmokeoutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner music/food festival brand. Listed as partner venue/event on Joe's Bar website.
• Lone Star SmokeoutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner music/food festival brand based in Arlington, TX. Listed as partner venue on Joe's Bar website.
• Jam For GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting kids battling cancer through live music. Joe's hosts benefit concerts with proceeds funding grants to Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. High-impact charitable partnership aligning live music with pediatric cancer support.
• Anthony Rizzo Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable foundation receiving proceeds from Jam For Good benefit concerts at Joe's Bar. Provides direct financial and emotional support to children and families navigating cancer treatment and recovery.
• Weish4Ever (Andrew Weisher Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation honoring Andrew Weishar who passed from colorectal cancer in 2012. Hosts annual benefit concerts at Joe's Bar to raise money for cancer patients and their families, continuing Andrew's request to 'pay forward' acts of kindness.
• Off The Street ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago's oldest boys and girls club serving 3,000+ kids in West Garfield Park. Beneficiary of annual Battle for Hope corporate battle of the bands event hosted at Joe's Bar.
• 103.5 KISS FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago radio station co-presenting Kentucky Derby Watch Party at Joe's Bar. Station host Brady appears at event; DJ Nurotic provides entertainment.
• Rock 95.5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago radio station co-presenting Kentucky Derby Watch Party at Joe's Bar. Station host Maria Palmer appears at event.
• US99minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago country radio station presenting Jackson Dean Low Dough Show at Joe's Bar. US99 Low Dough Show Series provides artist discovery platform.
• Tock (Exploretock)coreTechnology or IntegrationReservation platform integrated into Joe's Bar website for game day table reservations. Handles per-person reservation fees and seating assignments for sports viewing events.
• TicketWebcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary ticketing partner for concert and event ticket sales. Integrated into website for ticket purchases with $2-$3 city amusement tax per ticket.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Riviera Theatre: Historic Chicago concert venue (~2,500 capacity) operated by Jam Productions, hosting comparable touring acts across rock, country, and indie genres. Directly competes for the same Chicago mid-size touring artist routing as Joe's.
• The Vic Theatre: Jam Productions-operated 1,400-capacity Chicago theater with similar intimate touring-act positioning. Comparable in scale and artist tier, competing for the same Chicago live music consumer.
• Schubas Tavern: Chicago neighborhood live music venue and bar with smaller capacity (~300) and similar hybrid tavern/music venue positioning. Comparable business model combining F&B service with ticketed live music programming.
• Brooklyn Bowl: Multi-city hybrid entertainment venue combining live music, bowling, and full bar/restaurant service in a large warehouse-style footprint. Closest national comparable to Joe's hybrid sports/concert/event model.
• City Winery Chicago: Chicago live music venue with attached restaurant and bar, ~300 capacity, focusing on singer-songwriter and intimate touring acts. Comparable hybrid food/beverage + ticketed concert model.
• Bub City: Country-themed bar and live music venue with Chicago and Rosemont locations, listed as partner venue on Joe's Bar website. Directly comparable country-leaning entertainment concept in the same metro.
• Aragon Ballroom: Iconic 4,500-capacity Chicago venue also operated by Jam Productions, hosting larger touring productions. Competes with Joe's for upper-tier artist routing in the same metro market.
• House of Blues Chicago: Live Nation-operated music venue in Chicago's Marina District with comparable capacity (~1,800) and similar focus on mid-tier touring acts across multiple genres. Competes directly for the same artist routing and Chicago concert-going audience.
• Joe's Live (Rosemont): Sister venue under common Joe's Bar ownership operating in Rosemont, IL. Same brand family, similar hybrid music/bar/event format, extending the operator's footprint into the Chicago suburbs.

Broad incumbents

• Live Nation Entertainment: Largest global live entertainment company and concert promoter, operating House of Blues and numerous mid-size venues. Sets the touring artist economics and routing decisions that determine Joe's ability to book acts and set ticket prices.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/joesonweedst
• Instagraminstagram.com/joesonweedst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joesbar

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Joe's Bar