2025 12 31
In bar light, he looked alright. Chicago, Illinois. November, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
(Not) Becoming a Bar Owner in 2026
For last year’s post about becoming a bar owner this year, please see: 2024 12 31
The last note of 2025, which I will try to keep brief. One thing I’m left to consider is how I need to update my Year-End Considerations for next year, instead of simply revisiting the ones I make a year ago. I will get to this in the new year, but for now, let’s talk bars!
This is another one that I did not anticipate to play out as it actually did. Early in the year, a building came up for sale which attracted the interest of a friend of mine looking for both a new spot to live in a building he could own. The specific building also happened to house a longtime bar called WeeGees. Perhaps it was irony or perhaps it was fate; the fact that while somewhat actively looking for a bar project to dive into, one named after a photographer, and in my own neighborhood, becomes available.
Smash cut to today and I sit on my couch as a non-bar owner. We were realistically not prepared or qualified to be serious contenders for that particular project, but in hindsight it was likely a good thing it played out as it did. While it did feel like destiny in a strange way, my reality today would be so much different in almost every way imaginable had the project moved forward. While I’m sure some of those aspects might be improvements, I have to think that the time I’ve been able to put towards photography and art has been more fulfilling to me than old fashioneds and cleaning the bathroom at the bar.
This dream of mine isn’t dead, but it’s on hiatus for perhaps another time when it makes more sense.
See ya next year…
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of Year-End Contemplation posts from 2025, please see: 2025 12 25.
For the complete list of Year-End Contemplation posts from 2024, please see: 2024 12 25.