Sonotheque was the first club in Chicago to sport a Funktion-One sound system.
There’s been a lot of talk in the music corner here at Time Out, on the CTA and around town at gigs about what’s happening with Sonotheque. Despite the fact that I did some pre-construction work on the club way back when, worked and deejayed there early on in its history, and have friends and family on the ownership/management side at the club, I have had trouble getting all the details as to what is going on with Sonotheque. I knew that Joe Bryl, music programmer, had moved his Brazilian night to the Charleston, a bar/venue that will be going through its own changes. I knew that Sonotheque was up for sale within the past few weeks and interested parties from New York and Chicago were rumored to be buying the club and completely redoing it and renaming it. I finally just got confirmation from Pete Toalson of the Empty Bottle—big shout out to Pete for his help. Did I just get a scoop? Tell me I did.
“We can confirm that the current ownership group—one that includes Terry Alexander, Joe Bryl, Bruce Finkelman, Donnie Madia and Peter Toalson—have sold Sonotheque and it will close the week ending November 15th. The new ownership group continues to include both Finkelman and Toalson, and now adds Paul Devitt,” writes Toalson in an email.
Paul Devitt is owner of the Beauty Bar franchises—which have a vintage beauty parlor theme—there are outposts in Brooklyn, San Francisco, Vegas.
I’d expect a rehab and a big change in the look and feel. We’ll have to wait and see about the music programming.
You got the scoop in my book, especially since I know all of us have been trying to get a straight answer since the closing was rumored last week!
oh! i hope they keep the giant steps right in the middle of the club! i mean–no, i hope they get rid of the giant steps right in the middle of the club.
Huge scoop. A Beauty Bar in Chicago? That space seems…. tiny. But anything is possible.
The step is being retired.
“way back when” this was home to Casey’s Liquors. I loved Casey’s Liquors. Sonotheque…meh.
I was hoping this place would always last. One of my favorite bars because of the reasonably priced drinks, diverse selection of artists to come through, decor and sound. What the hell is a beauty bar? Now there’s one less open minded venue in Chicago…eventually there will be no places to witness your favorite artists.
Just what Chicago needs: another outpost of a national chain.
Fun while it lasted, I enjoyed VJing there for quite a few Lumpen (Apres Ski, Rejects, etc..) events, the addition of the two screens at either end really made it fun for VJ stuff… but those steps WERE awkward! The layout never felt quite right…
as one of the many DJ’s that graced the Decks there over the years, I can honestly say it had the finest Sound System in Chicago. I’m gonna miss that place.
lame, too bad that place is outta here. make way for new lincoln parkers with a beauty bar? no thanks. that step is fine, chill. that sound was tight…i would go there a ton when it first opened and less when it caught on. toooooo baaadddd
Wow that’s a bummer. It was the only club in Chicago where you could easily talk with your friends over the blasting music. It was also my favorite place to VJ. I hope they keep the best things and just do away with the damn step that had caused so much damage to so many people.