This past weekend, the historic Wilson Avenue Theater at 1050 W. Wilson Ave. opened its doors to the public as part of an architectural tour hosted by Open House Chicago. This event provided a rare opportunity to explore the interior of the building before its transformation into the new home of the iconic Double Door music venue.
The Wilson Avenue Theater, designed by Henry L. Ottenheimer and completed in 1909, originally served as a vaudeville theater before being converted into a bank. The building has a rich history and has been vacant since the closure of a TCF Bank branch in 2011. The theater’s pre-renovation state is a fascinating blend of its theatrical past and more recent use as a bank, with a visible bank vault in the basement that will be transformed into a lounge with a bar.
Reviving an Icon: Double Door’s Return to Uptown
Plans to reopen the Double Door in Uptown have been in motion since 2019, following the club’s departure from its long-time Wicker Park location in 2017. The restoration project, which has faced funding challenges, recently received a significant boost with a $5 million grant from the city as part of the Chicago Recovery Plan. This grant is a crucial part of the $8.5 million needed for the project, which has also benefited from $125,000 from the city’s Adopt-A-Landmark program to help preserve the theater’s facade. You can read more about the grant here.
The new Double Door will not only serve as a music venue but will also have a strong community focus. Plans include hosting after-school programs and music and production classes for kids and teens. The venue will feature two mezzanine levels, a balcony, VIP seating, and a 17-foot-tall sign, with a 31-foot-wide marquee to advertise upcoming shows. Efforts are being made to ensure the design remains in character with the Uptown Square Historic District.
The architectural tour revealed the potential of the Double Door’s new home, with a table displaying photographs and plans for the new venue. More than 2300 people visited the site over the weekend, sharing stories and reminiscing about the Double Door’s Wicker Park days. The anticipation for the new venue is exciting, and it promises to be a fantastic addition to the Uptown neighborhood.
