photo: Courtesy of Nick Flandro

It's a wonder that The Store has such a difficult time embracing its dive-bar roots, given its 4 a.m. closing time (5 a.m. on the weekends). After all, anyone hoisting pints past three in the morning loses the right to be discriminating. We're a little past the point of shame here, right? Still, The Store insists on playing the part of the swanky nightclub—and the five to ten dollar cover charges that accompany such posturing can be a little stiff for the clientele.

Of course, most people rolling in during the wee hours tend to be a little looser with their pocket change. Fortunately for these suckers, The Store does offer pretty decent drink specials. Nothing can beat dollar bottle Tuesdays if you can stomach swigging MGD, Miller Lite and High Life all night. On Mondays, the lounge-environs of the backroom are invaded for open-mic night and would-be musicians scramble to make the best of their fifteen minutes with house-provided instruments. Well-established artists have been known to drop by to fiddle around, keeping with the grand tradition of hippie-jam bands that seem to run as an undercurrent to The Store's overall scene. Also playing host to a well-rounded jukebox and Pop-a-Shot machine, The Store remains the primo spot for gaggles of DePaul students looking to quench an after-hours thirst.

Centerstage Reviewer: K. Tighe