Jerry Garcia-Themed Venue to Open
A new music venue and restaurant named Jerry's is slated to open in Chicago's West Loop. The establishment will pay homage to the legacy of musician Jerry Garcia.
- The venue is a partnership between concert promoter Peter Shapiro's Dayglo Presents and the Jerry Garcia Family. Shapiro has a history with the Grateful Dead, having produced the "Fare Thee Well" 50th-anniversary shows in 2015. - This is the second "Garcia's" location; the original is adjacent to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, another venue owned by Shapiro. The Chicago project has been in development for six years. - With a capacity of approximately 300-350, the venue aims for an intimate atmosphere. The design blends California mid-century modern with psychedelic touches, and will feature previously unseen Garcia family photos. - The food and beverage program is managed by Lowder-Tascarella Hospitality, known for their work at The NoMad and The Modern. The menu, created by Executive Chef Ivy Carthen, is inspired by Garcia's Spanish heritage and San Francisco roots, focusing on American comfort food. - The music booking strategy will reflect Garcia's eclectic tastes, featuring a mix of jam bands, jazz, Americana, and world music. The opening month's lineup includes performances by Grahame Lesh, son of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. - The venue is equipped for high-quality audio and video production, with capabilities for multi-track recording and 4K live-streaming of performances. - Garcia's Chicago is located at 1001 W. Washington Boulevard in the West Loop, taking over the space formerly occupied by the restaurant Wishbone. - The project realizes a long-held dream of Jerry Garcia's, who had spoken of opening his own intimate club called "Casa Garcia" where he could jam and host new musicians.