Stranger Things fans in the Chicago area don’t need to until Halloween to revisit the Upside Down.
Emporium Pop-Ups has opened a Stranger Things-themed bar in Oak Park, paying homage to the hit Netflix show in the lead-up to its October return.
Called, of course, The Upside Down, the limited-engagement bar is much less creepy — and deadly — than its namesake.
Eleven love: A pop-up bar devoted to Stranger Things has opened in Chicago
That looks familiar… The inside of the bar pays homage to the Netflix show
Popular: The Upside Down is only open through the end of September and already has long lines
Superfans: Inside, they recreated Castle Byers and include lots of references to the show
Eggo-mania: There’s even a mural of Eleven with a waffle behind her
What about Barb? A ‘Barb wire’ pays tribute to Barb, a beloved character who died in the first season
Much love: Barb is also present on a painting on the tap machine
The bar opened earlier this month at Logan Square at 2367 N. Milwaukee Avenue and will stay open through the end of September.
The company behind it says the bar is ‘the end of Summer ’80s dance party of your dreams, filled with curious Things inspired by & paying homage to the instant-classic television show’.
Besides a sign declaring it The Upside Down out front, there are plenty of nods to the popular program inside.
One wall is decorated to look like the inside of the Byers family home, with an old couch, colorful Christmas lights, and hand-painted letters — though it’s unlikely that Jonathan will use the spot to send any spooky messages.
There’s a mural of Eleven with a giant Eggo waffle behind her, as well as a smaller painting of Barb on the tap machine.
Clever: One wall includes the alphabet with Christmas lights, which the Byers used to communicate while Jonathan was in the Upside Down
Yum! The bar serves cocktails with Eggo waffles, Eleven’s favorite
Transported: Signs tell visitors they are in Hawkins, Indiana, where the show is set
Upside Down: Furniture — and more Eggos — have been glued to the ceiling
Drink up! Cocktails include the Snack Pack and Demogorgon
Barb also gets a shout-out with ‘Barb wire’ hung, and a signs for Hawkins, Indiana and Benny’s Burgers sign hang on the walls.
They recreated Jonathan’s outdoor fort, too, hung a bike on the wall, and — most literally — hung upside-down furniture from the ceiling.
The theme also extends to the menu. The Eleven’s Eggo’s slushie drink is made bourbon, juice, and maple syrup, and is topped with a piece of the character’s favorite waffles.
There’s a Snack Pack, a Demogorgon, a Mouthbreather, and a drink called ‘She’s Our Friend & She’s Crazy.’
Unsurprisingly, the bar has been a fast hit, with fans of the show lining up down the block to get in.