McCabe’s co-owner Robert Goering would like to see downtown DeKalb return to its old glory.

The 100-year-old building at 323 E. Lincoln Highway is receiving a makeover, inside and out, which is planned to be revealed to the partying public within three months.

Goering, who holds a master’s in marketing from NIU, is working with staff, construction workers, artists and consultants toward beautifying and re-opening McCabe’s. The club was shut down in 2000 when the owner of nine years filed for bankruptcy and the city revoked the establishment’s liquor license.

One way McCabe’s aims to capture the interest of the college market is by constructing a progressively styled environment, following the lead of other clubs, while also pinpointing students’ habits at Andy’s Lounge, 317 E. Lincoln Highway.

Goering said he has taken notice of the trend toward cozier living-room environments where small groups of people can gather. Elements like fireplaces could lend a more intimate atmosphere, and the possibility of Internet access would bring an increasingly important aspect of technology to mesh with entertainment.

“It’s almost like a lounge-type of environment, where you have something like your front room,” he said. “You could tap into the Internet, you could lounge with your friends and yet it’s a very quiet, laid-back atmosphere.”

While McCabe’s would maintain a larger dance club style, the more intimate setting would be located in what is now known as Moe’s Place, 333 E. Lincoln Highway. McCabe’s, Andy’s and Moe’s would form adjoining but divisible facilities, so that each one can maintain a unique environment, while patrons will have the option of changing settings without setting foot outside.

With the adjoining buildings, Goering believes the possibility exists for closing off entrances and possibly presenting 18-and-older events, similar to the recent arrangement between Otto’s Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, and the city of DeKalb. The Otto’s agreement allowed for two 18-and-older shows to be held in an alcohol-free version of the club’s upper floor, while alcoholic beverages still were served in the separate Underground.

“Maybe the Otto’s concept will work,” he said. “We’re looking to isolate that concept to our furthest-east room, Moe’s Place.

“We’ve been working diligently on the internals, the logistics of serving a group of people – not having them wait in line, and having adequate ways to get around – all the things I learned from working there,” Goering added.

Goering and his brother Glenn, who were employees of the bar while students at NIU, owned the establishment from 1976 to 1991.

When the bar changed hands in ’91, the brothers still owned the real estate. Upon the bar’s closing in 2000, they found themselves unable to use it to its full potential, because all of the city’s liquor licenses were taken at the time.

“We had a beautiful antique building, which was sitting vacant,” Goering said. “We really didn’t have any options to re-open. At the same time, we were kind of hanging on the coattails of revitalization of the downtown.”

About 18 months ago, the brothers approached then-mayor Bessie Chronopoulos, who approved the purchase of Andy’s. A transfer of the liquor license to Andy’s was part of the deal.

The focus then shifted to restoring the reputations of Andy’s and McCabe’s, with the remodeling and reopening of McCabe’s being the main project.

“At this level we’ve made great inroads in reacquainting Andy’s to the student marketplace, as well as still maintaining our attachments to the local community,” Goering said.

Consultant Charmaine Kroll, whose job includes training staff for coming transitions and scoping out trends that will attract the college crowd, said the complex’s best selling point is its versatility.

“Everybody is comfortable with something that’s familiar, but newness is nice, too,” she said.

The changes that have happened at Andy’s in the last year are just one indication of the success they hope will be enjoyed by the new developments.

“Andy’s is changing a lot,” she said. “Now McCabe’s is in the construction phase. In the past, it’s had a good rapport and a bad rapport, but we’ve definitely turned this place around.”

Historical beauty, modern touch

Since its construction around 1900, the building housing McCabe’s has witnessed an evolution forged in the college spirit, from early rock ‘n’ roll to disco and back to rock ‘n’ roll again. Combining turn-of-the-century aesthetics with modern dance-club style, McCabe’s will offer an eclectic setting.

Spencer Lock, a senior fine arts major, is one artist helping to restore the antique feel of McCabe’s.

“There’s this whole ornate plaster pattern that goes on the ceiling, so I’m repairing it and taking some of the old parts down,” Lock said. “I think there’s going to be a cornucopia of different things … It seems like there’s turn-of-the-century, some ’70s stuff and some modern touches.”

McCabe’s will be a lot more eclectic than traditional or retro-themed clubs, however.

“It’s not going to be like Vertigo [Nite Club at 145 N. 3rd St.], and it’s not going to be like Amnesia [1000 W. Lincoln Highway],” Lock said.

Goering explained the idea further.

“Our concept, in the total, is bringing back a 100-year-old building,” Goering said. “We’re trying to bring back that unique architectural design into the mainstream. It will be the equivalent of the building as it existed in 1900.”

As an experiment, a section of the newer ceiling of Andy’s was pulled back to reveal the original, ornate-leaded ceiling.

“This is a perfect example of what I’m looking at here,” Goering said, gesturing to the detailed, reddish-metallic ceiling. “There are so many hidden architectural treasures in these buildings.

“We truly want to turn this block into something that people will come back to see for the architecture and the history, and have a drink if they are so inclined,” he added.angel hernandez photo

The elaborate facade of the century-old

McCabe’s building is just one

of its architectural

treasures.