Joliet's One More Time Sports Bar Unveils Reopening

JOLIET, IL — You've been stuck inside your house dealing with cabin fever since March. Your St. Patrick's Day parties got canceled and there's still no Chicago White Sox or Cubs games to watch. You're itching to socialize and get outside. One popular Joliet bar is ready for you.

One More Time Sports Bar, at the corner of Raynor Avenue and Theodore Street, is reopening Friday, May 29.

Bar owner Brian Wielgus announced on Facebook that "We're back. As long as we are within guidelines to do so we will be open at 3 p.m. next Friday to 10 p.m."

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One More Time Sports Bar will be celebrating its fourth anniversary in Joliet in September. Bars and dine-in restaurants throughout the state have been closed since March 16. However, in recent days Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that restaurants and bars can start to reopen beginning May 29 as long as they feature outdoor seating and maintain proper social distancing.

Joliet Patch's editor asked the owner of One More Time Sports Bar whether his patrons are excited to return in just eight more days.

"I believe they are," owner Brian Wielgus told Patch. "I believe that with anything as unpredictable and controversial as our current situation, you're going to have excitement and anger. We are just trying to give some relief from the stress of our lives."

For Friday, May 29, One More Time Sports Bar plans to have karaoke under the tent in the parking lot.

"We will be having a welcome back BBQ," the Joliet bar posted on social media. "Please bring your own lawn chairs for social distancing. We will also have tables and chairs set up."

Wielgus told Joliet Patch he will be offering $10 domestic buckets of beer as well as $2.50 Modelo and Corona bottles. One More Time Sports Bar will also offer $4 select tequila drinks.

One More Time will open from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 30, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, May 31.

"Please follow all Joliet and Will County guidelines. Be safe, be smart, but most of all, be ready to have some fun!" One More Time informed its social media followers.

The Joliet bar at 1527 N. Raynor Ave. has had 14,272 people check-in on Facebook.

On Thursday, one of the bar's Facebook followers inquired: "I thought the changes only allowed outside dining with bars? Don't they have to be seated outside 6-feet apart?"

One More Time responded by saying it will be offering food that people can order with alcohol. "And I have a huge closed off lot that will be used. No parking."

The next comment on the bar's Facebook thread: "Yesssssssss."

Joliet Patch continues to write about the city's small local restaurants and businesses during the ongoing health crisis. Patch created a simple survey to let everyone know they are open and their current hours of operation. About 140 Joliet businesses have been added to Patch's list so far. If you want to add your business to Joliet Patch's list of open and closed businesses, you can do so here.

Related:

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• 89 Coronavirus Deaths So Far In Joliet
• Remove Joliet From Gov. Pritzker's Restore Illinois Plan: Mayor