The Windy City is going to have a new home for magic performances later this year. The Chicago Magic Lounge is drawing its inspiration from local legend Schulien’s, one of the world’s first magic restaurants that closed its doors in 1999 after 84 years in business. While there are theaters and hotels that do host magicians, the Chicago Magic Lounge seems to fill a needed niche for the city’s entertainment scene.
“We want to reintroduce adults to magic,” Joey Cranford, co-owner of the Chicago Magic Lounge, told local outlet Edgeville Buzz.
The space is a 7,200 square-foot complex in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, housing a cabaret theater, a close-up magic theater, and two bars. The Chicago Magic Lounge will also have a full kitchen to serve Weekend nights will feature extra late-night shows, while a Sunday matinee will give a family-friendly option.
“I get a lot of people saying that their children love magic, and I’m like of course they love it because they’re kids,” Cranford said. “But what we want is for the adults to find magic again. We see such a need for adults who want something fun and different to do and we are happy to introduce them to modern, sophisticated up-close magic.”