In 2024, Evanston lost Reza’s Restaurant and Lounge. Last fall, Bob’s Pizza and Chili’s closed too — all affordable late-night joints that drew students downtown. Weinberg third-year Sophie Lewis says these spots were important to Northwestern’s culture.
[Sophie Lewis]: Northwestern students would go to those.
There is still classic student nightlife in the area — but spots are farther out from campus — and from each other — so hitting the town requires a plan. Lewis says she still goes out, but
[Sophie Lewis]: When I go out independently with my friends I’m not seeing other Northwestern people because like the Northwestern people are probably at a different Northwestern spot.
Part of the problem is Evanston’s “sleepy schedule.” Most bars close at or before midnight — even on weekends. This makes it hard for students — whose commitments often run until 9 or 10 at night — to get downtown in time.
But now, they might not have to. Luna’s Pub and Grill opened on the first floor of Norris University Center this January. It gives students a place to relax, shoot some pool, watch sports games and even buy a drink — all without setting foot off campus. The Pub also runs programming — Tuesday karaoke, Thursday trivia and rotating Friday night specials.
I headed over for trivia mid-Winter Quarter to see if students are making the most of this new nightlife option.
[natsnd: trivia pop]
Half the tables are taken — mainly by students of varying ages with trivia sheets and pencils in hand. But Luna’s already had a few regulars who had secured spots in their favorite seats — beer in hand.
[me]: so is this your first time at Luna’s?
[Jaden Ordonez]: No, actually it’s not. Damn, I didn’t even answer. Oh sorry, should I, can I not say that? Well, I would say, like, definitely not my first time.
McCormick senior Jaden Ordonez has been to Luna’s multiple times to do work, grab a drink and see friends.
[Ordonez]: There’s been a change in tide, like a lot when it comes to just like places that have a third place in Evanston when it comes to just more casual, like maybe having a couple of drinks kind of vibe
Norris Executive Director Corbin Smyth hopes Luna’s casual nature — and its convenient location within the student center — will encourage connection across the student body.
[Smyth]: you bump into a friend from class, and then you meet those friends, and then you, all of a sudden, 2 months later, you’re friends with all those people
He says it’s the ethos of serendipity — the idea that one night at Luna’s could spiral into an entirely new college experience.
Luna’s may be convenient for students looking to chill. But it suffers from some of the same problems that plague Evanston nightlife. The Pub closes at 11 p.m. And menu items aren’t exactly student budget-friendly: The burger sells for a whopping $20 and pints run up to $11 a pour.
But even if Luna’s isn’t perfect, it’s a start. And change is coming to Evanston, too. A late-night jazz bar off Sherman Avenue is set to open in June. And Northlight Theatre will return to the city this fall after 30 years in Skokie — bringing live entertainment and plenty of foot traffic with it.
Andy Vick is the executive director of Downtown Evanston, a non-profit that provides marketing and other support for businesses in the city’s downtown district. He says these openings are a chance for the city to connect with students.
[Andy Vick]: There’s a lot of good stuff happening in downtown Evanston right now. It may take another year or two before it all builds out and, you know, fully realizes its potential, but there’s a lot of really exciting things happening here, and we want the Northwestern community to be a part of that.
But for these spots to change Evanston’s culture — and give students a true college town — excitement can’t just come from businesses. Sophie Lewis says students need to take an active role.
[Lewis]: To have more school spirit, we just have to have more school spirit. To make Luna’s lit, we gotta make Luna’s lit and go there.
Students and businesses have an opportunity to make Evanston’s nightlife more vibrant, diverse and accessible — now it’s up to them to take it.
For WNUR News, I’m Gabby Shell.