A Chicago restaurant owner with a popular watering hole near Wrigley Field is making a pitch for the defunct Hi-Tops sports bar in the shadow of PNC Park.

Tony Anton, owner of Mullen's Bar and Grill, appears to be in the process of taking over the Federal Street property, which has been vacant since Hi-Tops, beset by financial problems, closed Sept. 30 at the end of the Pirates season.

Mullen's Bar & Grill Inc. has applied for the transfer of a state liquor license to the location. Anthony Anton is listed as president, treasurer, stockholder and manager of the company.

Mr. Anton could not be reached for comment, but Scott Stanley, a general manager for Mullen's in Chicago, confirmed that his boss had an interest in the property.

In the Windy City, Mr. Anton owns and operates Mullen's Bar and Grill at three locations, including one half a block from Wrigley Field. The others are in Lisle and Rogers Park. Mr. Stanley said the restaurants "are very strong here."

"I think he wants to continue that in the future at other sites," he said.

Just what Mr. Anton has planned for the Hi-Tops space is unclear. Mr. Stanley said he hasn't decided on a concept yet. He said all three Chicago establishments have different feels.

The Wrigley Field location is the smallest and busiest and serves sandwiches, appetizers and drinks. The Lisle site features 16 plasma TVs and offers live entertainment and a full restaurant, while the Rogers Park location has more of a neighborhood atmosphere.

"Whatever direction he goes [in Pittsburgh], it's going to make a nice name for itself," Mr. Stanley said. "The man knows how to run a bar."

The three establishments are named after Jim Mullen, a family friend who retired as a police officer in 1996 after being shot in the face, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.

Mr. Stanley said he did not know the timetable for opening the Pittsburgh bar. Nick Hays, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, said the license transfer was pending. A lawyer for the building landlord, PIA Building LLC, declined comment.

Hi-Tops operated from the Federal Street location adjacent to PNC Park for 5¹/₂ years. It drew big crowds on game days, but struggled to attract patrons at other times. An operating consultant blamed the bar's demise in part on high rent and aggressive creditors. He also said the Pirates' chronic losing was no help.

The bar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization last March and then converted it to a Chapter 7 liquidation in September, triggering the closing.