Taste of the Town: Dawn’s Beach Hut provides tropical atmosphere during winter’s grip

ST. CHARLES – If you're looking to escape this endless winter weather for an evening, Dawn's Beach Hut, 8 N. 3rd St. in downtown St. Charles, might provide the perfect refuge.

"If you don't look out the windows, everybody swears they are in a Florida Keys beach bar," said owner Dawn Humer.

Humer has tried hard to convey a tropical atmosphere, from the thatch-roofed hut above the bar to the tropical drinks and the music that flows through the intimate establishment.

"I only play Jimmy Buffet, reggae and Caribbean music," Humer said. "When I go out, I like an escape, and that's what I feel my place is. I'm providing a total experience."

In October, Dawn's Beach Hut celebrated five years of being in business. It opened during St. Charles' annual Scarecrow Festival in October 2008.

Humer is proud her business still is going strong, especially in the face of tough economic times.

"The economy has been tough for me, like everyone else," Humer said. "And finding my location is tough because I am not on Route 64. My success is dependent on word of mouth."

Humer has perfected the tropical bar theme. Dawn's Beach Hut is Humer's fifth bar and her third featuring a tropical theme. She previously owned two tropical-themed bars in Schaumburg.

"I have the feel for the tropical theme," she said. "It's just me."

Dawn's Beach Hut is known for its tropical drinks.

"It's all about the drinks," Humer said. "Probably 80 percent of our sales are in specialty tropical drinks, such as Funky Monkey, Caribbean Margarita or the Lava Flow, which is the No. 1 seller."

The establishment also sells mixed drinks and domestic, craft and international brews.

Along with providing customers with a taste of the tropics, Dawn's Beach Hut has a warm and cozy atmosphere. The establishment has a capacity of about 40 people.

And because Humer wants her customers to be able to carry on conversations with each other, the music in Dawn's Beach Hut is not blaring.

"People can actually speak to each other," Humer said.

She hopes Dawn's Beach Hut provides a place for people to get away, even if it is just for an evening.
"This is a break from our routines," Humer said. "Life can be so busy."

During the winter, Dawn's Beach Hut is open from 7 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays and from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

For information, call  Dawn's Beach Hut at 630-513-0204, or by visiting facebook.com/dawnsbeachhut.