Bar hosts Christkindlmarket pop-up event in Avondale
A Chicago bar is hosting a Christkindlmarket-inspired pop-up event, offering an in-person taste of the popular German-themed holiday festival and open market, which has shifted to a virtual format this season.
Patrons can buy hot cider or cocoa in commemorative Christkindlmarket mugs at the Christmas Market Pop Up at DMen Tap in the Avondale neighborhood. The event will be held at the bar’s food truck, which is parked out front, from Nov. 27 through Christmas Eve.
To help relive the Christkindlmarket experience, visitors can take pictures in front of a photo backdrop of a previous Christkindlmarket atDaley Plaza.
“Through the years we have seenhowimportant of a tradition market visits for food and drink were to the people of Chicago,” DMen Tap said in a news release. “From couples who had their first date at the market, to kids looking forward to their annual hot cocoa, the absence of its food element will be felt.”
The food truck is also selling take-home spiced wine kits and food items such as schnitzel, German sausage and a Raclette sandwich, where the semihard cheese is melted toorder froma giant wheel on site.
DMen Tap co-owner Shawn Podgurski said he’s been a vendor at Christkindlmarket for the past six years, andhe’ll miss the in-person festivities, which were canceled because of rising COVID-19 cases. The event has gone virtual for the first time since Christkindlmarket began downtown in 1996, organized by German American Events LLC. Since then, the holidaythemed open market has expanded to sites in the Wrigleyville neighborhood and Milwaukee. A similar event was held in west suburban Naperville for several years aswell.
“Although the beloved holiday event cannot take place in-person this year, visitors will be able to enjoy the tradition fromthe comfort and safety of their homes,” the event website states, adding that the online market and various activities will be available through Dec. 31.
Like most restaurants and bars, Podgurski said DMen Tap has struggled during the pandemic. The business began with the DonerMen Food Truck in 2013, and expanded into the bricks-and-mortar venue in 2017, which makes much of its profit from large events, he said.
“Our business model has been completely shattered,” he said. “It’s been bad, it’sbeenrough. We feel kind of abandoned here.”
Podgurskiaddedthat the pop-up event will be outdoors and take social distancing precautions.
“Just so you can have something tokeeptradition alive this year — a safe fun, experience,” he said. “It’s going to be a quick experience, but at least it’s something.”