I just recently started putting on small events in Chicago, small bar parties and so on. I was recently researching about the legendary Frankie Knuckles and learned a lot about his start as well as the club “the warehouse”. To my knowledge there is nothing in Chicago that is similar to what the warehouse used to be.
My question is does anyone know a place that I can, for now, rent out a warehouse space? I`m looking for some place around the west Loop or further north. Also if there is a good website that has a list of warehouses that are looking to be leased or bought out that would be a great help.
Thanks all, can’t wait to hear what people have to say.
Your best bet is to get a real estate broker to find a location. 2 biggest things to consider… zoning and liquor license. Most new places in the west loop are restaurants that serve liquor. There was a shooting on Randolph a few weeks ago
Police are trying to shut it down. The neighborhood organizations will be all over it. When you try to open a new liquor establishment, you have to go through zoning hearings with the neighbors within a certain distance. I am a Chicago based DJ, I live in the west loop, and I have already looked into this. Even The Mid has a ton of complaints against it and that place is big time… it’s owned by React.
Thats all good to know. In your mind what would be a good area to set up a low key nightclub? I just moved to greek town from the suburbs and don’t have a good understanding of the area.
I want a place thats low populated, even a warehouse district. For now it doesn’t have to have a liquor license, thats something I will deal with later but I will definitely need to keep it in mind.
I have not been in the underground scene in years… Are there people still doing warehouse parties? Are these legit? How are they getting away with it? Every weekend? Same warehouse? I DJ’ed a few when I was in college, but it was the son of the warehouse owner.
Not entirely sure of the legalities of it but Paradigm is one worth looking into. They have tons of warehouse/all night type parties that are in unmentioned locations until the day of(ticket holders get emails with address)
For now I just want to focus on getting a following at the place. It would be to much work to get a liquor license just to have the place close within 6 months or less depending on how well or bad it does.
Kwal, off the top of your head do you know how often these warehouse parties happen?
They have them quite often, and with very big artists at that… The last one I was able to play was off of Cermak around Halsted… Right in the industrial park on the 5th floor of a building with what I’m assuming were paid off cops patrolling the area hard. I was playing before Superflu.
They’ll literally bring in the biggest known techno DJs you can imagine
edit/ Based on rumors, I hear they attempt to shut down anyone trying to run similar parties by contacting authorities. That’s just a rumor though.
Are you asking for an after hours location or like a regular underground party? you can shoot me a pm i might be able to help you i know a lot of ppl in this busines in Chicago
hahaha welcome to 2015, people in this time are so uptight about everything. If you play music to loud in your apartment you might have to police called on you.
enjoy. at the end of the day its all about atmosphere