A New Printer's Row Bar Proves Vital to Locals

Eater

28-07-2025

has been a regular contributor to Eater Chicago since 2021. She's written for Chicago Tribune, CS, Block Club Chicago, OpenTable, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Magazine, and So Good.
For Jennifer Wilson and James Shields, there's personal motivation behind opening Vitalogy, their new bar on the ground floor of a 142-year-old brick building in Printer's Row.
'One of the biggest things when we bought this space is that we love this street,' Wilson says. 'We live here, and we wanted to be something that was inviting to the neighborhood and not only uplifts it, but hopefully uplifts some of the other businesses, too.'
Open since early June, Vitalogy has established itself as a neighborhood hangout with weekly specials and a happy hour. On a recent weekday visit, the room was decked out with rainbow decorations for that evening's Pride celebration. The 18-seat wood-topped bar was almost full with solo imbibers and couples. Plans are in place for community-focused activities, cocktail classes, and live music from local musicians.
For their beverage list, the couple leaned into their travels and love for Chicago for inspiration. Beer options include Spain's Estrella and Belgium's Delirium Tremens and Chicago's Old Irving and Printer's Row. There's a handful of wine options, non-alcoholic drinks, and THC- and CBD-infused drinks.
Of the 10 house cocktails, Shields is especially proud of the Second City Milk Punch — a clarified milk punch with Jeppson's Malört. 'It's not everybody's cup of tea, but it gets a lot of compliments,' he says.
The Second City Punch is made with Jeppson's Malort. Vitaology
Expect seasonal cocktails with fresh herbs being grown in a hydroponic garden in the bar's glass-enclosed wine room toward the back of the space.
Originally, the couple didn't plan on serving food, but a discussion with their alderman's office made it clear that wasn't an option. They enlisted a French-trained chef friend who also lives in their building as a consultant. The couple didn't want to disclose where the chef worked. The chef hired the staff and developed the menu, no easy feat as the small kitchen relies on only a convection oven and induction burner to cook its food.
The concise menu includes small plates like roasted nuts and chickpeas, and chicken and steak skewers. Larger plates include beef and vegan cheeseburgers on a brioche bun. For dessert, there's a chocolate chip cookie skillet, a root beer float, and a THC creamsicle soda.
To transform the former secondhand store into the bar of their dreams, the couple was adamant that the interior of the 1,300-square-foot space reflect the vibe of the neighborhood. The build-out took three years, and reclaimed items are used throughout, including a vintage leaded glass door at the entrance. They worked with a carpenter who had built several Chicago bars in the past, with Vitalogy being one of the last before he recently retired.
For its name, they stuck close to home. Formerly a printing company, like many of the ones surrounding it, this building focused on children's books, including The Wizard of Oz. It also holds several encyclopedias, one of called Vitalogy, a health and wellness-focused book printed in 1916. The fact that it's also the name of a Pearl Jam album was a bonus. A glass case displays a copy of that book along with a few others.
For now, the couple will remain at their day jobs — Wilson works in finance, while Shields is in tech sales. They'll continue to head over to Vitalogy after work and on the weekends, just like other locals in the neighborhood.
'These days it seems everybody's doing multiple gigs,' says Wilson. 'This is a heck of a side hustle, though. I've joked that we could've just bought a car and driven for Uber, but this has been much more fun.'
Vitalogy, 723 S. Dearborn Street, [phone], open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday; 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday; and 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
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