Jerry Garcia-Themed Venue to Open in West Loop
A new music venue and restaurant themed around the late Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia will soon open in Chicago's West Loop. The establishment aims to add to the neighborhood's culinary and entertainment options.
- The venue, officially named Garcia's Chicago, is a collaboration between promoter Peter Shapiro's Dayglo Presents and the Jerry Garcia Family. It is located at 1001 W. Washington Boulevard in the Fulton Market area. - This project aims to fulfill a dream Jerry Garcia himself had of opening an intimate club, which he planned to call 'Casa Garcia,' where he could host jam sessions and support emerging musicians off the road. - The intimate venue has a capacity of 300-350 people and features a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system designed for premium acoustics. - The food and beverage program is managed by the Lowder-Tascarella Hospitality Group, known for their work at The Nomad and The Modern. The menu, created by Executive Chef Ivy Carthen, has a "Spain-meets-San Francisco" theme, reflecting Garcia's Spanish roots and Californian upbringing. - The interior design is described as Californian mid-century modern with psychedelic elements and will showcase previously unseen family photos and memorabilia that inspired Garcia. - Garcia's Chicago is not the first venue of its kind from this partnership; it builds on the success of a smaller Garcia's located at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. - The inaugural lineup of performers includes Grahame Lesh & Friends (featuring Daniel Donato), Grace Potter, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, reflecting a diverse booking strategy similar to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
