It is hard to believe that Molly’s is celebrating its one year anniversary this Sunday.

The bar has kept itself in constant competition with all the other bars since day one of its grand opening on September 23, 1988.

Its success has been attributed to the tremendous amount of “time and effort that went into creating it,” said Shawn Thrower, one of Molly’s managers.

Molly’s has a custom built mahogany bar estimated to cost at least $40,000 to reproduce, and the mosaic ceramic tile was hand laid.

In addition to the decor, unusual antique knick knacks are hung everywhere to keep Molly’s patrons amused. Pictures and other paraphenalia represent a little bit of DeKalb’s, as well as NIU’s history.

Molly’s offers more than drinks. They also include a menu that boasts pizza, specialty sandwiches, snacks and much more.

Molly’s tries to include a little bit of everything because, according to Thrower, “people really appreciate a place where they can go to have fun.”

One thing that sets Molly’s apart is its special attention to wine. Molly’s is connected to The Bottle Store and shares many of the same managers as well as owners. This allows Molly’s staff to easily expand the menu of wine and other drinks that are available.

Particular wines are selected about every other month and featured in a machine called a Cruvinet. The Cruvinet can keep seven different wines “on tap” to be sold by the glass instead of the bottle. This allows customers to sample a glass of wine before buying a whole bottle.

Molly’s does carry a standard house wine, but more wine has been sold from the Cruvinet. Another aspect that makes Molly’s unique is that they are the only establishment in town to feature a Cruvinet.

Molly’s, in a joint effort with its partner store The Bottle Store, offers a wine club which entitles its members to many benefits that are detailed in pamphlets found in the store.

In accordance with its special attention to wine, The Bottle Store contains an area called “Professor Vino’s Wine Lab.” In the wine lab, one can find an amazing computer that helps select wines for almost any occasion and any dish being served.

There is also a small refrigerator in the lab that contains a few samples of wine for the curious customer.

Once you have selected a wine from one of the vast amount of wine bins, it can be chilled within three minutes by another machine also found in the wine lab.

But wait! The incredible partnership of Molly’s and The Bottle Store has one more trick up their sleeve. A third party is being added to the amazing duo.

Coming soon, to a DeKalb location near you, Molly’s and The Bottle Store will present “Amnesia,” a giant, new dance club that guarantees to offer quite a few suprises for everyone.

Although no details are being released right now, Thrower guaranteed that it will be unlike anything DeKalb has seen.