Change may be a good thing! Recently Stellas on State received a new owner! I needed to stop in and check it out. First they advertised the BEST bloody marys. Yup, they are pretty good! They mix their own and do a great job! Did you know....the bartendress baked muffins and corn bread which were free and sitting on the bar. Nice homey touch!! Good place, nice people, try it! read more

Stella's On State - A woman with short dark hair and a red top stands behind a bar counter holding a basket of baked goods, with more baked items on the counter. The background features multiple TV screens and bar supplies. - Dive Bars Near Me - Lockport, Illinois

Local establishment with great bartenders and a laid back vibe. Straightforward draft menu with some can options. Ordered an Old Fashioned and it was excellent. The bartender used luxardo cherries, which was a nice touch! Washrooms could use some attention, but not a deal breaker. Stop in for a drink and say hello! read more

The ownership seems to have changed hands twice since my last review based on my conversation with a patron. I attempted a visit on a Sunday afternoon and was barely greeted by the bartender. Didn't give her name. Wasn't impressed when she asked for the drink order. Didn't know Ed Debevics style customer service made it's way to Lockport. Definitely not the same homey vibe Stella's once had. Customers weren't the top priority. Stayed for one and left. Such a shame. **ETA 3/8 - I saw your previously edited response. No I did not prefer drunk bartenders and do not appreciate the insinuation. No where in either of my reviews did I mention anything of the sort. Just shows your true colors and lack of class. So does bringing up someone's passing. A simple "hello, my name is _____, what can I get you?" with a smile, Was all I was looking for, not a "WHADDYA WANT!? with an eye roll. I get people have bad days or are going through things, we all are and I'm the service industry if you can't even put on a brave face and smile, nsync you need a day off or new career. read more

Dive bar, small place, but does have covered outdoor area in addition to seating at bar and some tables The draft beer is cold and that a plus. Parking is on street or nearby public lots in short walking distance read more

Stella's On State - two women dressed in costumes - Dive Bars Near Me - Lockport, Illinois

My father and myself used to go to this awesome bar years ago and I really appreciate all the great memories of when I was there hanging out with Stella and the gang up there including all my biker buddies I'm doing good and I'm in Carbondale now maybe I'll get up there again in a few years and grab me and my husband Lloyd a few drinks to celebrate our anniversary! Thank you so much for everything and I miss this place and everyone there. Have a great day! Kind Regard, Lucinda Kerrigan "Bradley" in Carbondale, Illinois read more

It was a few years back when I visited... circa 07? Friends of mine wanted a drink and after hitting up old Dreams, it was onto Stellas for some actual decent.. or well, not so decent company but the drinks were alright. It's a bit of a sports bar. Right along the main road and parking wasn't too too bad. We had 2 drinks as I awaited a phone call from my first love. In the interim there were redbull vodkas. There were chickenshit guys there. A few talked to us and tried to find out more about the misplaced CA girl formerly from suburbia. But none of them were appealing. As we walked out, my friend Steph and I got approached by one super trashed guy in a white collared button down shirt. He said that "he WAS thinking about going home alone but then he saw us and figured that he wouldn't have to.." Yeah, whatever loser. Why do all the bars in downtown Lockport suck? Seriously. It's not like there's much else to do. Get your act together and figure it out. read more

Stella's On State - Red Bull vodkas - Dive Bars Near Me - Lockport, Illinois

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I stop in from time to time primarily because no reservations are required. This place is a "townie bar" and definitely a shit hole with a bad basement bar atmosphere. Great customer service and never a problem for me...must be my friendly smile! "Stella" can be found on the North or South side of her bar on any given day. This lady pours a respectable drink. Remember..."This is a classic townie dive bar" and Stella will remember your name. read more

Stella's On State - Storefront - Dive Bars Near Me - Lockport, Illinois

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Drunk owner. Shitty service. Save yourself the disappointment. Try Jackie's down the street it is WAYYYY better.

HORRIBLE SERVICE. WORST PLACE IVE EVER BEEN TO. I was out with my dad and he got his brand new coat stolen that i bought for him for Christmas and the drunk owner refused to check the cameras for us. Then she accused of us lying saying he didn't come in with a coat. She was to glued to the slot machine to pay attention to her customers. Will never return to this establishment. Would give zero stars if i could. read more

OK, now I'm convinced that this place is the key to the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup. Whenever I watch a game here, they simply do not lose! (Hockey fans tend to be a bit superstitious) I caught game 6 against Vancouver here again last night and while I started out going in alone, I left with a boatload of new friends to watch the San Jose games with that lie ahead. I can't wait. These are real Blackhawk fans! Special thanks to Nicholas for making good on our bet (who won the Stanley Cup last year), Kristin for just being cool and prettier than a Patrick Kane breakaway, and some guy next to me in a hat who high-fived the whole bar after each and every goal. He was a riot, as was Nicholas and his stories. It all made for a lot of fun and a very enjoyable night. I'll be back for another game and I hope they all will be, too. read more

Staff is some of the nicest people you ever want to meet work here! Parking isn't always the greatest but the walk is never far! Nice little outside area! Prices are dirt cheap! read more

We love Stella's! Rang in the new year there. Had a ball. Range of age groups, lots of fun people. They also had a great group playing - Blood Lounge Duo. It was One Happy Bar! From what I read, I am looking forward to watching some Hawks games there. I thought the whole place was pretty nice (and the bathrooms were fine). read more

This place doesn't get any more neighborhoody than this. It is a small bar in downtown lockport, Illinois. There are good beer prices and they have one of the coolest modern puck throwing games I have seen. The bathrooms are nasty though. read more

I've always had a good time when I've gone to Stella's. There's a juke box so you can always get music you enjoy. Drinks are cheap, parking is easy, and there's a pizza place nearby. read more

Love Stella's On State! Of course I might be biased because Stella is my mom and I work there... but I truly love the people who come in, all the fun I have while i'm there and i cannot wait for football season!!! Stella always puts out a good spread for her customers... Karaoke every other wednesday has been a hit!!! The back patio is great too!!! love it! read more

This place is awesome!! The staff is great and Sam behind the bar is a hot little number!!!

Stopped in and had a few. Yes, it is a local bar but so what! The people were fun and the bartender was absolutely beautiful. She was definitely busy all night but took care of everyone. Had a good time and played some good music on the TouchTunes jukebox and so did everyone else. read more

I was just prevented by a patron who walked in just before me at 1:00am from entering this establishment. I did not know the patron, but instead of holding the door for me and my girl friend, he held the door shut so we could not enter. After muscling the door open myself he stated that we could not enter, as the police officers across the street with their flashing lights were enforcing an early closing. We turned away and checked hours of operation online. Before we got to the corner of State and 9th St., we read the hours of operation were until 2am, so we knew this was a personal attempt to prevent our patronage, and we had a right to be there. We entered without resistance and were served. I then noticed the guy who held the door shut on us. I confronted that guy, and asked him he was an owner and had any right to deny us access to the bar. He denied any knowledge of the incident and I walked away to enjoy my drink. He approached us and demanded an apology, convincing my girl friend that he was not the same guy that held the door shut, preventing us from entering, and so ensued a he-said/she-said which included an announcement that it was his birthday and why would he not include the public in his birthday celebration. It ended there in a stand-off, as I would not apologize unless he apologized and we went our separate ways. We then asked the bartender how to get in contact with the owner to report this absurd behavior by a patron, which we had already reported to the bartender who only said she was unaware that this has occurred. That bartender, In the process of giving us the information to contact the owners, became defensive of the patron accused of barring other patrons, and was not sympathetic to us when we tried to explain the injustice, as if there was a preference for the exclusive patron who felt entitled to bar other patrons an hour before closing time because it was his birthday. I will never try to enter that bar again. This would have been my 5th time patronizing this place, the 3rd time when this bartender was working. All previous visits were pleasant. This occurred on 3/3/18 at 1:00 a.m read more

Awful customer service! Rude and acted as if they didn't want business! Very towny which would have been okay if the patrons and bar tender didn't make it perfectly clear anyone else wasn't welcome. Not somewhere to spend your money, very disappointing! read more