It’ll Do

(Arcola, IL)

Scooter’s 826th bar, first visited in 2010.

There we’re two bars (that we know of) in Arcola, about a block apart, but we had time for only one. The other, Dog House, did not look open at first. But we had parked closer to It’ll Do, so we decided, well, that it’ll do.

We chose wisely, as we had a great time visiting this bar.

(Technically this was a bonus bar, as neither the GPS nor Google Maps had it listed. Dog House had been our original destination.)

Our bartender was the 21-year-old daughter of the bar’s owner. She’s a very busy gal, in addition to working at the bar she is in college and also in her 4th year with the Air National Guard. She was delightful to talk to.

There’s a grill right at the bar, and pool tables in a room off to the side. We were unsure if there was outdoor seating, it looks like it from the outside but I didn’t notice a way to access it.

The bar sells all sorts of branded merchandise (see the photos below), even including “It’ll Do”-branded thongs! (See photo below.) I bought a koozie — which they refer to as “huggies” in this region.

We noticed a prominently displayed “banned” list, a redacted photo of which appears below. I asked what you had to do to get such a public shaming. The stories were varied and about what one would expect. However the story of Blake, whose full name I wish I could reveal because it’s a classic name, takes the cake. I can’t remember the exact detail of the initial offense that got him in trouble with the bartender, but his act of retaliation against the bar led to sanctions against the bar from the Illinois ABC. Consequently, Blake is banned for life. In fact, he is SO banned, that it’s written into contract that if the bar is ever sold, any future owner must honor the ban. Sucks to be that guy!

Incidentally, as we were seated at the bar I noticed a sign on the wall that mentioned the year 1989. I looked at it more carefully, and began to laugh.

“Uh, you know how you mentioned the last 2 bars we were in first opened in 1989?” I asked B.

“Yeah,” he said.

I pointed at the sign. “Yeah, that’s the sign stating that you have to have been born by today’s date in 1989 in order to be served.”

So much for the wacky coincidence…