Chicago writer Ari Bendersky reports via his Twitter that nightlife businessman Chris Dexter is involved with a bar project debuting in July. “Old Town Social=1930s inspired social club pairs Brian Willette design w/ Chris Dexter savvy (yup he’s back!) Opens late July on North ave,” tweeted Bendersky on Friday morning.

As I reported at the end of 2006, Dexter made a hasty exit from his involvement in various Chicago nightlife and dining ventures (Del Toro and Stone Lotus among them) in spring of that year under unclear circumstances. Dexter had previously been involved in Elm Street Liquors and Goodbar. Ironically, Dexter’s 2006 cutting of ties roughly coincided with a profile in Chicago magazine and this splashy feature in Crain’s. I spoke with Dexter’s former collaborators at Stone Lotus at the time and none were willing to go on the record as to the nature of the falling-outs. But I had a feeling Dexter might pop up again. According to Bendersky, he is—but this is the first I’ve heard.

Metromix, for instance, makes no mention of Dexter in the preview for the new bar—but plays up the food and the thrift-store decor. There’s nary a mention of Dexter in the Old Town Social open call ad on Craigslist—not that there should be.
Whatever the depth of Dexter involvement, Old Town Social will be on the closely watched list of summer openings.