Darien Bar's Music Heard Blocks Away: Official

DARIEN, IL — Earlier this month, Darien residents who said they lived within a block of Q Bar complained at a City Council meeting about the bar's outside music.

This week, Ward 1 Alderman Ted Schauer, who represents the neighborhood in question, said he received complaints from residents with addresses that are three or four blocks away. He said it seems as if the bass is the problem, with the noise reverberating through houses.

"They're basically saying that they don't really want the outside music, which I can understand," Schauer said. "The music is a little loud."

The alderman said the residents were glad that the outside music was ending in September. The bar has been allowed to have bands play music outdoors because of the pandemic, when indoor dining and drinking were restricted.

The latest residents who complained about the music are in the 1300 block of Greenbriar Lane and the 7900 block of Pine Court.

Q Bar is planning an expansion in the parking lot. The residents who complained have no issue with that as long it is enclosed, Schauer said.

In an interview late last month, Bob Taft, the bar's owner, said the establishment has a good relationship with the police department. He also said the outside bands start shutting down at 10:30 p.m.

Taft has owned Q Bar for about two decades. Before the pandemic, the bar's music was always indoors.