LANSING, Ill. (September 21, 2023) – For Minnie Daniels, owning a bar has been a lifelong dream.
“My stepdad owned a lounge,” Daniels said. “So I was raised in a bar.”
Daniels will soon have a bar of her own as she readies to open Mingles Bar & Grill in suites H and I at 17030 Torrence Avenue.
In order to pursue her dream, Daniels recently resigned from her job as a special needs teacher with Chicago Public Schools. She had worked with CPS for 20 years but left to focus on her new pursuit.
“You’ll feel at home” at Mingles
Mingles will serve food such as wings, pasta, lamb chops, and lobster tails.
Daniels looks forward to having what she called “Soul Food Sundays,” when customers can enjoy traditional soul food options like dressing, collard greens, turkey, baked chicken, and sweet potatoes.
There will be table and booth service and also a full bar that seats 30 and will sell bottled beer and specialty cocktails.
A large number of flat screen TVs will make the bar a convenient place to watch a game.
“It’s going to be a really nice vibe,” Daniels said.
She described that vibe as “chill, relaxing.”
“You’ll feel at home,” Daniels said. “You know how everybody likes to go to a Cheers, where everyone knows their name.”
Outdoor seating, expressway access
Daniels said the location stood out in part because of easy access to the expressway.
“It just seems like a nice area,” Daniels said.
Village Administrator Dan Podgorski said Mingles was able to obtain both its liquor license and a special use permit to allow outdoor seating.
There will be four outdoor tables in a fenced in area outside the bar.
Daniels has no plans for live entertainment and anticipates drawing an older and more sophisticated crowd.
Adding to Torrence plaza
Mingles will be located in the strip mall at the River Place plaza that is anchored by a Culver’s restaurant.
“She’s helping breathe new life into that plaza,” Podgorski said.
Podgorski said the village has been trying to add more restaurants and nightlife to that area.
He figures Mingles will draw some travelers staying overnight in Lansing.
“That’s sort of where a lot of our hotels are at,” Podgorski said.
Daniels has already hired 22 employees and may have as many as 25.
“I’m cross training so my bartenders will be servers and my servers will be bartenders,” Daniels said.
Mingles will be open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sundays and Wednesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Opening soon, hopefully
Daniels said she is hopeful to open this month, but don’t hold her to that.
“I had so many anticipated dates, so I don’t want to put a date on it as of yet,” Daniels said.
She looks forward to getting to know her future patrons and creating a welcome atmosphere for them.
“My stepdad would be proud,” Daniels said.
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