One of Illinois’ best-known rock acts is planning to set up shop on South Michigan Avenue, opening a museum and concert venue in Motor Row.
Cheap Trick, the band from Rockford that rose to prominence in the late 1970s, is planning on rehabbing an old Buick dealership at 2245 S. Michigan Ave. and turning it into their Chicago home, according the real estate company that says they’re working on the deal.
The article goes onto state that there will be a museum featuring various rock memorabilia as well as a fully functional music venue. This is amazing news for this area as it will be the first full time entertainment option for this stretch of Michigan Avenue.
We've heard whispers of this in the past (see comment section of old Sloopin post here), but this is the first time we've seen anything this concrete. We imagine there will still be some hurdles to jump over, but hopefully this is real.
In honor of the city wanting you to love "Music Row" we thought this Cheap Trick song might get you in the mood:
(Hat tip: SoloMotorRow!)
It's happening, this is great.
ReplyDeleteLexington Park area home values have been rocketing (in context of Chicago) lately, the further development of this area should move the needle further.
Isn't one of the owners of piece pizza from cheap trick? How great would that be to have another Piece in the Sloop?!
ReplyDeleteThe development of Motor & Music Row (& Roosevelt Collection) helps everyone (home values) in the south loop... Personally, I love the neighborhood feel of the South Loop where there is a restaurant, upscale convenience store HERE and THERE with convenince of the big box stores down on Roosevelt away from the neighborhood; however we do need an ENTERTAINMENT POCKET to go to and this will be great for those who are visiting Chicago, South Loop residents and rest of Chicago.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they have installed blue light police phones over there yet...
ReplyDeleteSeem to be a southloop staple
Cool, will be interesting to see if it happens.
ReplyDeletePiece would be sweet. On the pizza topic, still haven't heard what's going on with that place that was supposedly moving into Grace O'Malley's?
O'malley is re-opening it as an italian resturant
ReplyDeleteO.T.
ReplyDeleteChgo Journal has an article regarding Marianos freshmarket building on a whole city block on Clark between 16th and 17th. That's vacant land next to the 1st District police station.
Competition and variety is always good.
Here is the article: http://www.chicagojournal.com/Blogs/Near-Loop-Wire/09-30-2011/Mariano's_moving_into_South_Loop
ReplyDeletelooks like the skate park idea is dead.
ReplyDeleteThe skate park idea may be dead, but not because of Marianos... The grocery store is going on the vacant lot across the street from where the skate park would have been.
ReplyDeleteOh no I totally caught that and am happy a store is going up there. Yeah I just saw in the article they mentioned the skate park idea accross the street got squashed
ReplyDeleteBrandon then where is Omer Asik going to give his skating lessons? Werent they going to call it Omer Asik Park?
ReplyDeleteHey Brendan, we wrote a longer piece about the skate park back in August if you're interested in the gory details. Check it out here: http://www.chicagojournal.com/News/08-24-2011/South_Loop_indoor_skate_park_'dead'
ReplyDeleteGeez I totally missed that! thanks ben nice article and "wendigo" why dont we give it a rest already with the trolling and "funny" jokes
ReplyDeleteExcited about the music venue and would LOVE to see a brewery/pizza pub like Piece in the hood. Only thing I don't like about the comments from Fioretti is the fact that he wants this stretch to "tie together" the south loop and bronzeville. My tax dollars already support enough of bronzeville. They can keep their welfare hounds on the other side of Mercy.
ReplyDeleteAnon at 10:27 am., more of us are tired of ignorant comments like yours.
ReplyDeleteThese venues will not be cheap (no pun intended) and some will be geared towards Restaurant (first) with Rock, Blues and Jazz (not the hole in the wall type; so I say if you can afford it, then you're welcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm a glass full kind of guy but in the article it says they are planning on moving into the 2245 bldg on Michigan. I checked the realtors website posted on the facade and it looks like the bldg is still listed. www.nelsonhill.com hope this happens tho, would be a great addition to the brewery and hopefully other things.
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