Lincoln Hall: Indie rock magnet
Empty Bottle: Intimate neighborhood hangout
SPACE: Mainstream Evanston hub
The Promontory
“It’ll be very much like what we do in Ukrainian Village,” says Empty Bottle founder Bruce Finkelman of The Promontory, his new project with Evanston SPACE owner Craig Golden. Designed by Kujawa Architecture, this two-story spot in Hyde Park is part of a long-overdue renovation of 53rd Street. The South Side hub will also boast a menu by chef Jared Wentworth (Longman & Eagle).
Patrons: University of Chicago students and South Siders looking to satiate their rock appetite
Capacity: 600
Average Ticket Price: Not available at presstime
The Back Story: The two-year long project will yield the first new music club in Hyde Park since the 1950s.
Thalia Hall
Another Finkelman and Golden effort, this massive revamp started when Finkelman toured the opulent 1893 Pilsen theatre. “The building is spectacular. It takes my breath away,” says Finkelman of Thalia Hall. The reimagined behemoth opens mid-December and will host rock shows and community events such as gear swaps and farmers’ markets.
Patrons: Pilsen hipsterati
Capacity: About 1,300
Average Ticket Price: Not available at presstime
The Back Story: The original was modeled after the National Theatre in Prague.
Concord Music Hall
A trio of music promoter heavyweights behind some of Chicago’s biggest festivals, including Riot Fest and North Coast, joined forces to open Concord Music Hall, a tri-level space in Logan Square, in August. Early bookings include everything from punk and jam bands to the Harlem rapper ASAP Ferg.
Patrons: Club kids to suburban mall punks
Capacity: 1,600
Average Ticket Price: $25
The Back Story: Housed in the former Congress Arcade, the space once offered bowling lanes, pool tables, and boxing rings.