11/01/2024
Murasaki Sake Lounge: Closing and Farewell Sale
Since its founding in 1986 by Shino Tamura as Cafe Shino, our beloved lounge has been a gathering place for Chicago’s Japanese community and friends of Japanese culture. During the ‘90s and early 2000s, Cafe Shino flourished as a hotspot for Japanese patrons, eventually transforming in 2011 into Murasaki Sake Lounge. From 2014, under Jun Takanarita’s ownership, Murasaki has thrived as a pioneer of Japanese-style nightlife in Chicago, introducing a unique experience with Japanese sake, cocktails, rare whiskies, and City Pop music.
However, with rising rents, staffing costs, inflation, and the challenges downtown businesses face, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors at the end of November 2024. To express our gratitude for your loyal support over the years, we are offering a special sale on our rare whiskies, shochu, and more throughout November. From now until our last day on November 30th:
* All by-the-glass drinks priced $25-$49 are 30% off.
* Drinks $50 and up are 50% off.
* For bottles priced at $100 and above, enjoy 50% off. (Unopened bottles are available for takeout.)
Come by to reminisce about the history we’ve shared, savor your favorite drinks, and celebrate the end of an era with us.
As we bid farewell to Murasaki, its spirit lives on through Jun Takanarita’s Summertime Japanese Restaurant & Bar in Mount Prospect, where you’ll find authentic izakaya-style Japanese cuisine, an expanded selection of Japanese sake and whiskey, and the classic Japanese cocktails that Murasaki popularized.
Additionally, Jun has teamed up with Kaz Suzuki to bring Katsu-Shack to Wrigleyville—Chicago’s first Japanese-owned fast-casual tonkatsu restaurant, a new favorite for Japanese comfort food.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. We hope to see you one last time at Murasaki, where memories and great stories live on.
