HISTORIC 1920s ART DECO BAR WITH AL CAPONE TIES ARRIVES AT LITTLE ROCK'S TABORIAN HALL TODAY
Century-old bar from Cicero, Illinois finds new home in Dreamland Lounge—another milestone in the restoration of West 9th Street's most storied landmark
LITTLE ROCK, AR – October 14, 2025 – A piece of Prohibition-era history arrived at Taborian Hall this morning, marking another pivotal moment in the ongoing restoration of Little Rock's most treasured African American landmark. A 24-foot early-1920s art deco bar, originally from Cicero, Illinois, where Al Capone ran his criminal empire during the 1920s, will be assembled today on the first floor of the historic building at 807 W. 9th Street.
The bar, acquired from Red Baron Antiques in Georgia where it had been in storage, is believed to have operated in one of the numerous speakeasies and bars that flourished under Capone's control in Cicero during Prohibition. In 1924, Capone moved his headquarters from Chicago to Cicero to escape law enforcement, transforming the town into what historians have called a "feudal dukedom" of illegal alcohol, gambling, and entertainment.
The connection between Cicero and Little Rock runs deeper than this single bar. Al Capone famously used Hot Springs, Arkansas, just 45 minutes southwest of Little Rock, as a hideout during the 1920s and 1930s. Now, nearly a century later, a bar that served the famous and infamous will pour drinks in the same building where Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, and other musical legends performed during the golden age of West 9th Street.
"This bar has seen a century of stories," said Kerry McCoy, owner of Taborian Hall and founder of the new Dreamland Lounge. "It's fitting that it finds its home here, in a building that has its own legendary past. Both this breathtaking antique bar and the elegant Taborian Hall have survived against the odds, and both deserve to be celebrated."
The bar features rich dark wood, intricate molding, and a mirrored backdrop—hallmarks of the art deco craftsmanship of the era. It will anchor the Dreamland Lounge, a new cocktail and coffee lounge opening late 2025 in the east wing of Taborian Hall's first floor.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY – TODAY ONLY
Installation and assembly of the historic bar will take place throughout the day at Taborian Hall, 807 W. 9th Street, Little Rock. Media are welcome starting at 10 AM this morning. This is a rare opportunity to document a significant moment in the building's restoration and capture the bar before it is permanently installed.
About Taborian Hall
Built in 1916 by the Knights and Daughters of Tabor as their international headquarters, Taborian Hall was entirely funded and erected by Arkansas's African American community. The building served as the heart of West 9th Street—known as "The Line"—Little Rock's thriving Black commercial and entertainment district. The third-floor Dreamland Ballroom hosted some of the greatest names in American music during the 1930s–1950s. After decades of decline and near-demolition in the 1980s, Kerry McCoy purchased and began restoring the building in 1991. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
About Dreamland Lounge
Opening late 2025, Dreamland Lounge will offer craft cocktails and coffee in an intimate art deco setting inside Taborian Hall. Open evenings from 4 PM to midnight (later for special events), the lounge honors the legacy of the Dreamland Ballroom and West 9th Street's golden era.
Media Contact:
Kerry McCoy
501-664-7667 (mobile)
Kerry@flagandbanner.com (also reply to this email for questions)
Location:
Taborian Hall
807 W. 9th Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
