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Competitors and observers don’t offer much hope for Millie’s long-term survival. Neither Holme nor Boucher is well established on the club scene, and without a following it’s difficult to fill a giant space in the crucial early days. “The drawing power just isn’t there,” said one source. As it now stands, Holme’s concept also may be unrealistic. She is looking for a crowd that wants to stop by after work to drink and listen to live jazz, blues, or cabaret music, but she may quickly discover that not many clubgoers are out and about so early. Millie’s will offer dance music later in the evening.
Elsewhere on the club scene, the China Club appears to be off to a good start–good enough, even, to be helping Shelter, its neighbor down the street. Says one impartial source: “Crowds are leaving China Club at 1 AM or so and heading over to Shelter.” And Steve Edelson, who moved to LA after selling the Bridge and Union earlier this year, has brought Union back and reopened it under old management. But don’t worry, girls. Though Edelson intends to maintain a presence in Chicago, he has no plans to return here permanently.
Hot Time at the New Shubert
Well Done, Weisberg
