Chicago — A fight between fans of opposing soccer teams at a Gold Coast bar spilled into Division Street, resulting in five arrests and two Chicago police officers being injured, according to CPD and witnesses.
It happened around 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Gold Coast Social, 7 West Division.
Witnesses said the brawl began after Mexico lost to Argentina in the World Cup. Police were called to the scene and worked to break up the fight, which continued in the street. CPD tased one person and arrested five. A firearm was also recovered from a woman’s purse nearby, according to a CPD report.
CPD said one officer was taken to a hospital for treatment of facial injuries. Another cop, also injured in the face, declined medical attention, police said.
The bar, which was scheduled to host a night of “FOXES WILD … music mix of Rock, House, Country, and classic sing-alongs!” closed for the night, according to an update to its latest Instagram post.
Gold Coast Social is the newest concept to occupy the storefront. It used to be home to Play Kitchen and Cocktails, a bar riddled by gunfire from a drive-by shooter at Christmastime last year.
After meeting city officials in March, the bar closed voluntarily “to develop a new security plan and branding concept,” Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said at the time.
A police spokesperson said the move was a “self-closure by the business,” not a CPD summary closure or other action by the city.
“The amount of late-hour criminal activity associated with [Play] in recent months is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated by our community,” Hopkins said in March. “We will continue to hold ownership accountable for their stated intention to improve the situation.”
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