If approved by the Village of Palatine, the property would become a 6-story, mixed-use luxury apartment building with commercial uses on the ground floor and roof.
April 11, 2024 – Palatine, IL. Durty Nellie’s has been a cornerstone business in downtown Palatine for more than half a century, and the owners of the traditional Irish pub, restaurant and entertainment venue are currently seeking to redevelop the property at 180-190 N. Smith Street into a mixed-use commercial building, but plan to continue running the business in a brand-new format.
Durty Nellie’s owners Mark and James Dolezal have engaged with Jonathan Payne – one of the developers behind The Arboretum in South Barrington and Deer Park Town Center in Deer Park, along with architect Jim Tinaglia of Arlington Heights-based Tinaglia Architects, who has designed many multi-family and mixed-use projects in the northwest suburbs, including The Providence of Palatine and the Hummel Building, that are both in downtown Palatine.
The redevelopment vision was initiated by the Dolezals in early 2022. Talks were prompted due to two major events that hit the business hard over the last four years, including a devastating fire in January of 2019 that closed the pub and band room for four months, and the kitchen for nine months. The COVID-19 pandemic began shortly after it had fully reopened.
“We have loved the evolution of Durty Nellie’s in Palatine, from starting out on the east side of the downtown, to our current location – but our venue has become too large for what customers are looking for today,” James Dolezal said. “We have thought long and hard about this decision and taken it very seriously; this proposed new development will help us to stay in the community that we love to serve.”
If approved by the Village of Palatine, the 18,000-square-foot property would be demolished and become a 6-story luxury apartment building with 85 high end residential units. There would be 10,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, including a 3,500-square-foot version of the original Durty Nellie’s. This would be in addition to a rooftop pub also operated by the Dolezals.
The development team presented a Preliminary Planned Development to the Palatine Plan Commission on April 4, when they received unanimous approval to move forward for a review and public hearing by the Palatine Village Council on April 17. If the Plan moves forward, the development team would need to submit a Final Plan Development with more detailed architectural drawings and plans for engineering and parking, among other requirements.
The proposed luxury apartments would be located on the 2nd through 6th floors. Amenities would include a workout room on the ground floor, along with grills and fire pits on the roof in a dedicated area for residents. In addition to Durty Nellie’s having space on the ground floor, Pan American Bank – currently located adjacent and to the north of Durty Nellie’s at 190 N. Smith Street – would be incorporated into the redevelopment, along with another commercial use that is yet to be determined. An elevator to the rooftop bar is also included in the Plan.
Pending Village approval, the development team aims at starting the project in early 2024 and estimates construction would last between 18 months and two years.
“We appreciate the Village of Palatine working with us to determine if this project can come to fruition, and are looking forward to creating a new future for Durty Nellie’s,” Mark Dolezal said.
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Media inquiries directed to:
Melanie Santostefano
Vicarious Public Relations
312-719-2332
About Durty Nellie’s:
Founded in 1972, Durty Nellie’s has been a staple entertainment venue, pub and restaurant in downtown Palatine. Brothers Mark and Jimmy Dolezal purchased the business in the 1980s from two airline pilots who named the business (though changed the spelling from Nelly’s to Nellie’s) after the famous Durty Nelly’s pub in County Claire, Ireland located in the shadow of Bunratty Castle.
The Dolezals have prided themselves on providing a unique entertainment venue, restaurant and traditional Irish pub with the finest wine, spirts, craft beers. The location hosts weekly events, including trivia, tabletop games, bi-weekly line dancing, acoustic performers, a variety of bands, and much more. Private events – including weddings (yes, weddings!) bar and bat mitzvahs, showers, all types of luncheons and any other gathering can be held in their band room, the mezzanine (which overlooks the band room on the second floor), as well as on their rooftop when Mother Nature allows.
Durty Nellie’s ¨ 180 N. Smith Street Palatine, Illinois 60067
Durtynellies.com ¨ 847-358-9150
