Molly's (previously known as the Walcott Street Pub or The Bomdardier Lounge) is a bar owned by Christopher Herrmann, Mouch and Trudy Platt, and previously by Otis, Gabriela Dawson and Leslie Shay. It is often frequented by the members of Firehouse 51 as well as other firefighters, members of the CPD and paramedics. Everyone helped create the bar.
Molly's is an original bar, having been followed by the food truck Molly's II (a failed endeavour) and a second bar named Molly's North (which closed following Otis' death). Molly's is located in the Bucktown neighborhood[1] of Chicago.
History[]
Season 1[]
Otis, Herrmann and Dawson decide to go in on the bar together after Herrmann talks to the bar owner following a fire at the bar. The old owner, Stephanides, says that there's also a silent partner involved off the books. (A Little Taste)
The bar fails the inspection, but the inspector comes back limping with the silent partner -a mobster named Arthur- and says that the bar has passed the inspection. Herrmann, realizing that the silent partner used threats and violence in order to 'convince' the inspector to pass them gives him a deal -1% of the profits every week to just walk away from the bar. He comes in to collect his 1% from the bar every week. (Nazdarovya!)
Herrmann revealing the name of the bar (Better to Lie)
There's much deliberation about what to call the bar. While doing some renovations, the three find a box containing an old war medal as well as an agreement between the old owner and the war medal’s owner -Clifford Baylor- which says that they share ownership of the bar. They return the medal to Clifford, who says he doesn't want his share of the bar because he 'got the girl' instead and was married to her for 40 years. Dawson asks what his wife's name was and decides to name the bar after her: Molly. (Better to Lie)
On opening night, Otis' cousin, Zoya, says that she wants to bring a chimpanzee. However, Otis mishears her and she ends up bringing the Stanley Cup. (Let Her Go)
Season 2[]
Molly's start to struggle when a new bar -Game Day- opens up down the street from them. Arthur still collects his 1% a week and begins to notice that the payments are lowering due to lack of business from everyone going to Game Day instead and isn't happy. As a result, Arthur destroys Game Day after he gives them a chance to pay him, but they turn him down. He is later arrested after having Jay Halstead working beside him as an undercover cop reporting to the police on his crimes. (Defcon 1, A Power Move, Joyriding)
Molly's goes through some financial trouble when it's discovered that the previous owner didn't technically own Molly's. The bank did, and the three need to come up with the money in order to pay off the loan, as their extension is denied. Leslie Shay inherits enough money to save Molly's after a patient committed suicide and named her in his will. At first, she wanted to give it to the patient's brother, but after finding out that he was stealing his brother's military pension, she decides instead to give the money to Molly's in order to save it. (Shoved In My Face, Out With A Bang)
Herrmann wants to have a party at Molly's to celebrate his 20th anniversary with his wife, but Dawson already had the place booked for her extended family. He suggests that they merge the parties which Dawson agrees to but questions due to Herrmann's present to his wife (him getting a vasectomy) and the matching cake Rebecca Jones bought for him. (A Rocket Blasting Off)
Season 3[]
Herrmann wants to expand the Molly's franchise and so challenges Joe Cruz and Mouch to bring him some ideas on how to do this with the name "Molly's II". Cruz comes back with the idea of setting up a food truck, which Herrmann likes. (Wow Me)
However, the food truck runs into many problems just getting off the ground. There is difficulty in getting a suitable truck and getting it up to standard to pass health inspections, made harder by the fact that the man in charge is resentful of Herrmann for saying that energy water -a pyramid scheme Herrmann was involved with- is a goldmine, which left him with a garage full of energy water. There is also issues with creating a menu since Cruz, who can’t cook, was put in charge of food. (Just Drive the Truck, Apologies Are Dangerous, Nobody Touches Anything)
However, Molly's II is finally able to debut at a Christmas market but it literally runs into problems when the brakes aren’t fully applied, leading to the truck rolling down the hill and crashing into the nativity scene. The group decide to give up on the project and instead donate the food truck to the Chaplain for his soup kitchen. (Santa Bites)
Season 4[]
A couple with a young child move in across the street from Molly's and ask about the noise since it's been keeping their young child up. Herrmann says that it's open regular bar hours and there are signs to respect the neighbours, but it doesn't appear to be enough for them. (Let It Burn)
The couple report the bar for violating the city's noise ordinance. Herrmann goes to apologise to them and promises to keep it down in the future, however the wife isn't too pleased. She turns down the blueberry crumble Cindy made because her son is 'allergic to sugar', insults his parenting skills and says that he can go and speak to her attorney if he wants to talk to her. As a result, Herrmann decides that it's karaoke night at the bar, propping the door open with one of the speakers so that they can hear it. (A Taste of Panama City)
The couple then report Molly's for a code violation as the pub should be 15 feet from the curb but it's only 13. They walk past the closed bar, seemingly pleased with themselves, gloating that the law is the law. However, Jimmy Borrelli called in his cousin, Anthony, who manages to find a way around the code. Due to the building's old structure, which was around during the prohibition era, it contains 'Joliet-Lemont limestone' which is found in old buildings, many of which have been torn down. The materials mean that the bar is labelled as a structure of historical significance and cannot be altered in any way, so they get a pass on the code violation and are allowed to reopen. (Your Day Is Coming)
Wallace Boden is arrested in Molly's when he's falsely accused of assaulting a woman. On the same night as his arrest, Herrmann is stabbed by Freddie Clemente -an employee at Molly's who's trying to get out of the gang life with the help of Cruz- who then runs away. He's found by Otis and Dawson, bleeding on the stock room floor. (Short and Fat, The Beating Heart)
Mouch and Trudy Platt have their wedding ceremony and reception in Molly's. (On the Warpath)
Stella Kidd and Herrmann compete in a competition which Dawson calls the 'Bar Olympics' after Dawson mentions that the bar's revenue is down and Kidd says that she ran a successful bar in Milwaukee for two and a half years. Kidd wins the competition, allowing her to help manage the bar. (I Will Be Walking)
Her first suggestion for improving the bar is artisanal ice cubes -large ice cubes which keep drinks cold and take longer to melt. She says that she can get the machine installed for it on the cheap since she knows someone and after mentioning that the ice cubes come with a premium price, Herrmann agrees to go for it.
The team are called to a fire reported at Molly's. The cause of the of the fire is deemed to be electrical, stemming from the artisanal ice maker. Herrmann blames Kidd for the fire and she promises to fix everything with her own money and her 'guys', but Herrmann is skeptical. Severide goes to help her as she doesn't have any guys to help. (Kind of a Crazy Idea)
Season 5[]
Molly's bar becomes quite empty, with Otis mentioning that one night, there were only four people in the bar, Mouch included. They try to find something to help and Otis finds a document which shows that the bar was previously called the Walcott Street Pub and was opened nearly one hundred years ago. They decide to have a massive celebration in the hopes it attracts people, including trying to get a story into the local paper. However, things go wrong as there is a horrible history to the bar including Al Capone and a massacre at the bar, leading to a depressing story. Herrmann expects protests at the bar, especially after Cindy messages him to go to Molly's, but instead finds a large group of enthusiastic people wanting to drink there as Molly's has been added to the city's crime tour. (One Hundred)
Season 6[]
Otis passes a bar which is shutting down and selling off everything. Although Herrmann tells him it's bad luck, he decides to go in to see what there is to buy and finds that the bar had been open for thirty years. He runs the numbers and believes that they could acquire the bar as a partnership, calling the project 'Molly's North'. (Down Is Better)
Otis, having become obsessed with the owner’s daughter Lily, rushes to get the bar open in time, but lacks advertisement after a deal with a taxi company ends up being too expensive. He ends up trying to talk on the radio about it, but stumbles and messes up with the show's host then mocking him and leaving him unable to get the name out. However, opening night appears to be a success with Lily saying it's the busiest it's been in a decade, although Otis was hoping for a bigger turnout. (A Man's Legacy)
Season 8[]
Molly's North is shut down following Otis' death, Herrmann mentioning that Lily didn't want to go on without Otis. (Sacred Ground)
Ritter tells Herrmann that he knows a person who could help him out with a loan. However, Herrmann turns down the offer saying that Dawson gave away her shares to Herrmann and Otis. With Otis dead, he needs a partner, not a loan. Mouch overhears this and decides to become an investor in Molly's. After convincing his initially skeptical wife, he and Trudy put together the money to buy Otis' shares. (A Real Shot in the Arm)
Employees[]
Current[]
- Christopher Herrmann: Owner/Bar Worker
- Randall McHolland: Owner/Bar Worker
- Trudy Platt: Owner
- Stella Kidd: Manager/Bar Worker
Former[]
- Gabriela Dawson: Former Owner/Bar Worker (gave away her shares)
- Brian Zvonecek: Former Owner/Bar Worker (deceased - shares sold to Mouch and Trudy)
- Zoya: Former Bar Worker (returned to Russia)
- Leslie Shay: Former Owner/Investor (deceased)
- Arthur: Former Silent Partner (arrested)
- Freddie Clemente: Former Bar Worker (imprisoned)
Trivia[]
- Molly's is inspired by a real bar called Lotties Pub. Exterior scenes are shot at Lotties, while interior scenes are shot on a set inside a studio.
- The address for Molly's is 1925 West Wolcott (Kind of a Crazy Idea).
- The bar is open until 2AM (Let It Burn).
- The building is constructed with Joliet-Lemont limestone, which was used during Prohibition and before that, meaning the building was given historic status and could not be altered in any way, which goes around any city ordinances. (Your Day Is Coming).
- Mouch and Trudy paid $45K for his share of Molly's (A Real Shot in the Arm).
- The bar serves "Milinac" beer, which is named after the show's special effects co-ordinator: John Milinac[2]
Gallery[]
