Open since 2007, Republic Road's glitzy Parlor 88 Lounge is closed

Editor's note, 9:15 a.m. Tuesday: Updated with details on what comes next in the space Parlor 88 occupied.

Parlor 88 Lounge and Eatery in south Springfield closed last week.

For more than a decade, it was a lavish space with a large indoor fireplace, next to which fans could enjoy appetizers, desserts or items from the "88 beers, 88 wines and 88 martinis" on its drinks menu.

In 2008, it hosted a party celebrating the premiere of the first "Sex and the City" feature film. News-Leader archives also show that more recently, Parlor 88 was a venue for election night parties for the election of Springfield City Councilwoman Jan Fisk and for the approval of a police-fire pension tax.

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The news that Parlor 88 would close came through a May 29 post to the lounge's Facebook account, which alerted fans that May 30 would be Parlor 88's last call.

Parlor 88 opened at 1111 E. Republic Road in 2007, among the first tenants in a shopping strip decked out in banana-yellow awnings just off the heavily trafficked intersection of National Avenue and Republic Road.

Its initial owner was Paul Sundy, who began developing Springfield nightlife hotspots in the early 2000s. He opened Parlor 88 after he had opened Icon nightclub and Big Whiskey's American Bar & Grill downtown. He also developed Dublin's Pass Irish Pub & Restaurant and Opus Cigar Bar.

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In 2013, the News-Leader reported, Parlor 88 had three locations: one downtown, one in east Springfield and the original one on Republic Road. The downtown and eastside locations closed in early 2014.

In October 2016, according to a Springfield Business Journal report, father-son duo Kris and Ben Clements bought Parlor 88 for undisclosed terms. Ben Clements managed Parlor 88's day-to-day affairs, the Business Journal reported.

The News-Leader reached out to Ben Clements via social media, but has not yet heard back.

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John Haik, owner of the shopping strip where Parlor 88 was located, confirmed Tuesday morning that he has a new tenant for the space.

Stephen and Karen Williamson, who are married, bought Parlor 88's assets June 1, Stephen Williamson said.

They've already begun demolition work on the space, he said. Everything but the kitchen is being refitted to create a new high-end lounge, Whiskey Tango.

"It will be completely, completely different," Williamson said. He described Whiskey Tango as "a speakeasy meets Miami Beach" that will serve heavy appetizers and drinks.

The Williamsons have hired a California-based consultant to help develop their concept.

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