Double Door Owners Look To Open New Music Venue In Logan Square
By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 23, 2016 6:34PM
Update, 9/27:
In a statement emailed to Chicagoist on Tuesday, Sean Mulroney, Joe Shanahan and other parties confirmed that they are indeed attempting to relocate Double Door to the Logan Square State and Savings Bank building.
The building’s co-owner, Mike Hagenson, said in the statement, "Double Door is considering relocating to Logan Square, and is currently meeting with the local community to discuss the issues relevant to the community and that project."
Mulroney noted the thrill of working on a "restoration project": "We feel compelled to protect our employees and the artists that perform here by maintaining the cultural diversity of Double Door. We looked at a number of other properties in the area, but the Logan Square State and Savings Bank stood out because it’s a restoration project. The building itself is a landmark building. To restore such an iconic neighborhood building with a civic and cultural purpose making it open to the public is incredibly exciting.”
Shanahan expressed a desire to see the venue strongly support his prospective new neighborhood: “Double Door is an iconic presence in the Wicker Park neighborhood, and we want to ensure it provides the same to Logan Square. As we’ve stated in the past, the venue has always made it a priority to give back to the neighborhood by hosting a number of fundraising events and culturally varied nights such as Cumbiasazo! Dance Party and Fabitat, just to name a few. It’s important to us that we work with the alderman and the Logan Square residents to create something that is important for the neighborhood community and city as a whole."
Original:
Two longtime mover-and-shakers of the Chicago music scene reportedly have designs on opening a new music venue in Logan Square.
Joe Shanahan, of Metro and Smart Bar, and Sean Mulroney, of (the legally embattled) Double Door, are looking to open the live-concert space at the Logan Square State and Savings Bank (2551 N Milwaukee Ave. and 3061 W Logan Blvd). Curbed reported in February that the historic building "may be the focus of a new mixed-use proposal in the coming months." The space is located just southwest of the Logan Monument, near New Wave Coffee and Rocking Horse.
According to Logan Square Preservation, Mulroney and Shanahan seek a concert area that will accommodate 650 concertgoers along with two bar spaces. Jonathan Splitt Architects were cited in the report to restore the landmark, but they told Chicagoist nothing has yet been finalized.
Meanwhile, Double Door co-owners Mulroney and Shanahan are still embroiled in a legal battle to keep that iconic venue's door(s) open. A judge ruled in July that Double Door must vacate the space, then determined operators had at least until the end of the year before having to leave. Earlier this month Mulroney and Shanahan reportedly filed an appeal against the initial ruling.
Chicagoist could not immediately reach Mulroney or Shanahan for comment.
[H/T Reddit]