Q&A: Angela Barnes of Nobody’s Darling

When 2022 Imbibe 75 Place to Watch Nobody’s Darling opened in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, it was amid a dwindling number of queer-centered spaces nationwide. Undeterred, co-owners Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle knew that they wanted to create a bar that was not only welcoming and safe but truly joyous. It wasn’t long before the accolades began to roll in, including a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Bar Program, and the bar found the enthusiastic embrace of the community. We caught up with Barnes to find out what the intervening years have brought, including a recent expansion of the existing bar, plus plans for a second location.

Imbibe: When you opened Nobody’s Darling in 2021, there was a real lack of LGBTQ+ spaces. Did you have a sense that the tide was going to turn? And what was your reaction to the accolades and community response?

Angela Barnes: We didn’t necessarily sense that the tide was turning, however we were acutely aware that there weren’t many spaces left in the city where we felt comfortable. We were fortunate that an opportunity came along which allowed us to create a space where we—as patrons—would want to come together with the community, have fun, and have great cocktails. We were very humbled by the reaction we received from the neighborhood and the whole LGBTQ community. Everyone was so gracious and welcoming. We knew we were on to something when so many people thanked us for opening our space. We remain humbled and grateful.

Have you seen the bar’s community grow and evolve over the past couple of years? Do you feel like your mission for the space has evolved with it?

We have seen so many different people come through our bar. We have grown close to all our regulars and they have brought more people into the Nobody’s Darling family. We haven’t changed what we are trying to accomplish with our bar. We still want to create and maintain a warm, safe, and inviting space for our community where they can enjoy great conversation, music, and fabulous drinks.

You also recently opened an expansion of the bar. What does it look like and how has it altered your capabilities?

We opened an expansion of the space to the west of the current space. The new space has more of a lounge feel, and the response has been very positive. We have had more DJs, and it has also allowed us to give the community a space to rent out for small private events. We are very excited about the new space because it feels so sexy. We even introduced some new drinks like the Harlem Renaissance [whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Cynar, chocolate liqueur, bitters] to help bring in the new vibe.

What do you hope to see for Nobody’s Darling in the years ahead? Any plans coming down the pipeline?

We are planning to open a south side location as soon as we are able to identify the right spot. We want to be very intentional about where we land next. I’m a Southsider, so being on the south side is important to me. We have so many inquiries from patrons who drive miles to visit us regarding when we will open the new location. We have the need and we feel the excitement. We just need to get all the pieces together. More to come!