A former theater and bank on Wilson Avenue will house the live music icon
One of Chicago’s most beloved music clubs and bars is officially coming back — albeit far from its longtime home or previously reported possible sites. Wicker Park’s loss is now Uptown’s gain as Double Door is slated to reopen in Uptown on the far North Side, Uptown Update first reported on Saturday.
The new site is the former Wilson Avenue Theater, an early 20th century vaudeville venue that opened at 1050 W. Wilson Avenue in 1908, Block Club reports. More recently it housed a TCF bank.
Uptown Update was tipped off by a pop-up Smashing Pumpkins merchandise shop over the weekend in the space. Included was a sign that declared “future home of the brand new Double Door.”
Alderman James Cappleman (46th) confirmed the news on Saturday afternoon in a Facebook post. “Well, the secret is out…. Double Door, welcome to Uptown’s Entertainment District in the 46th Ward!,” Cappleman wrote. Owner Sean Mulroney has not yet responded to a request for comment, but he confirmed the news to Fox32 and gave the TV station a tour.
Double Door was a Wicker Park pillar and beloved ambassador for the Chicago music scene for 24 years, having hosted concerts by the Rolling Stones, Smashing Pumpkins, John Legend, plus a flood of local acts. Named for its dual entrances on Milwaukee and Damen avenues, it also housed the downstairs separate-entrance speakeasy-style lounge Door No. 3, which opened in 2013.
The venue was evicted from its longtime location at 1572 N. Milwaukee Avenue in February 2017 after a long-contested legal fight with its landlord Brian Strauss. That space is slated to become a Yeti store, furthering the gentrification of Wicker Park. Reports pegged Double Door to reopen somewhere else in the neighborhood or move a little northwest to Logan Square. But it turns out that it’s heading far further north, to Uptown.
Stay tuned for more details.
- Double Door Coming To Uptown At 1050 W. Wilson [Uptown Update]
- James Cappleman [Facebook]
- Double Door Reopening In Uptown’s Wilson Theater Building [Block Club]
- Chicago music club Double Door to reopen in Uptown [Fox32]
- Yeti to open store at former Double Door site in Wicker Park [Crain’s]
- All Double Door Coverage [Eater Chicago]
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