Lockdown Bar & Grill is the product of childhood friends PJ Zonis and Andrew “Perm” Bian. Throughout high school and college PJ, with his razor-sharp passion for hard rock, and Perm, possessing a virtuoso’s skill of taste, refinement, and unique culinary creations, were unknowingly performing market research for their future brainchild.

Perm grew up working in The Mongolian House, one of Chicago’s first Chinese restaurants, while PJ ate there once to satiate his desire for always trying new cuisine and eateries (it wouldn’t be a stretch to say PJ grew up on restaurant food). When Perm moved to La Grange for college and PJ to Joliet, their friendship continued over lunches and dinners at myriad bars and restaurants in and around Chicago. During this time they noted and shared their likes and dislikes, no matter how subtle (you can bet Lockdown will have Sweet N Low for your iced tea) or obvious (you won’t find comically high drink prices with a side of bad attitude to go with it). Then after college – after ten years filled by explorations of Chicago eateries and countless musings of “If we opened up a restaurant…” they finally did.

In November 2008 PJ, Perm, and PJ’s business partner Dave Jacobs were at a local Chicago bar discussing over burgers and beers what to do next, after having recently sold their internet business. It was at that meeting PJ said he believed they had all the right parts of the equation (passion + knowledge + the ability to succeed) to create their own hybrid of a restaurant with great food, great drinks, and great music. In that moment, all of the bars, all of the restaurants, and all of the rock throughout PJ and Perm’s lives converged and their pipe-dream aspirations roared to a full-steam-ahead crash course with reality.

The elements to Lockdown’s equation included Perm’s ability to produce exceptional food and culinary concepts, PJ’s avid desire to create an atmosphere, or “virtual venue”, devoted to playing the hard rock and concert footage that he grew up listening to (think: Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth). With regards to the virtual venue, PJ says, “There have been plenty of influences on the concept of Lockdown, but none more important than the band Iron Maiden – and specifically the Rock in Rio concert DVD – which took place in front of 250,000 rabid fans. Metallica’s Live S*it, Binge and Purge box set was a close second.”

Keep in mind, in November 2008 the U.S. economy was mired in an impending recession and the general attitude among the public was fear and playing it safe – especially with businesses like bars and restaurants. PJ’s thinking was summed up by the song “Motorbreath” from Metallica’s album Kill ‘Em All where a young James Hetfield thrashes out the lyrics, “Those people who tell you not to take chances, They are all missing on what life’s about, You only live once, so take hold of the chance, Don’t end up like others, Same song and Dance!” One year later, the West Side of Chicago was introduced to the earth-trembling sound system, fourteen flat-screen televisions, and a food and drink menu that would make the most insatiable Rock God bow down. Lockdown Bar & Grill was born.