This Old-School Russian Sauna & Bathhouse Is For Sale In Chicago

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Feb 7, 2017 4:50PM

One of Chicago's few classic Russian saunas is up for sale on the Northwest Side, promising potential buyers a profitable business, plus its accompanying real estate, for $2.1 million.

Chicago Sweatlodge is a Portage Park institution in the style of old-school Russian bathhouses, where male patrons can lounge around the sauna wrapped in towels and enjoy food and drink in the building's restaurant. The business makes money off of entry fees ($32 a person, according to the website) and food and liquor sales, according to the real estate listing. It also features on-site parking.

The Sweatlodge's amenities include a traditional Russian Dry Cedar Sauna, a Turkish Wet Stone Sauna, a freezing-cold plunge pool and massages, which start at $40 for 30 minutes.

Chicago restaurateur Leon Toia opened the sauna at 3500 N. Cicero Ave. in 2007, according to Crain's. Check out a video tour of the property, below—and even if you're not in the market for a Russian bathhouse, you might at least want to stop by before someone else buys it: