Name: The Fountainhead

Age: 10

Neighborhood: Ravenswood

Address: 1966 W. Montrose Ave

Type: Restaurant/Bar

The Fountainhead was a neighborhood whiskey bar whose fantastic food menu, beer selection, and cozy atmosphere made it a major attraction for Ravenswood. On any given night, the restaurant would be full of Ravenswood regulars, out-of-town parents visiting their 20-something kids, and many first dates. The menu certainly brought people in with their harissa mussels, disco stew, and doner kebabs.

It seemed that every season of the year was perfectly enjoyed in this establishment. In the dead of winter, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in Chicago other than seated near their fireplace. The only better spot would be bellied up to “The Perch” where you and your friends could lord over the tavern. In the summer, you’d be hard pressed to find a free seat on their rooftop with all of the friend groups enjoying their evenings under the stars. The low roar of chatting, laughing, and music was a palpable energy on a warm summer evening. Very few rooftops in the city can surround you in such lush greenery that you truly felt like you were in a backyard party attended by you 50 closest friends.

We have lost The Fountainhead to COVID. It is survived by The Fountainhead Market just next door.

This is an interview and photo sequence was conducted in October 2020 with Jonathan Putman (Director Of Restaurant Operations) and Bob Zacharias (Beverage Director) at The Fountainhead.

The photo sequence was inspired by the New York Times' "One in 8 Million" series