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Suburban Man To Open Bar That Won't Serve Alcohol

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (CBS) -- A suburban businessman thinks he's found a new opening in the bar business: a bar that serves no alcohol, reports WBBM's John Cody.

Suburban Man To Open Bar That Won't Serve Alcohol

Construction company owner Chris Reed says a huge crowd as a sober night club in Los Angeles gave him the idea it might work here, so he's founded "The Other Side," despite advice from naysayers.

"Someone said, 'Why would I go to a zoo without any animals?' and they were referencing why would you go to a bar without booze," said Reed.

He says he's been three years recovering so far and found he was spending more and more time in the back of his construction company ware house with other recovering friends for lack of anywhere else to go that wouldn't endanger his sobriety.

Reed says this will be a real night club with flat screen TVs, excellent sound system, pool tables and a bar with cedar rails, just no alcohol going to the patrons.

Reed says just check it out.

"See if it is a good time and if it is come by again and make your judgment based off of your experience rather than your outside opinion," said Reed.

He think there are enough people who'd like to socialize without alcohol, even those who want to decompress because they have an early call the next morning, that he believes the project will be self sustaining.

Reed's no alcohol bar: "The Other Side" opens April 27 in northwest suburban Crystal Lake at Berkshire Drive and Main Street.

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