Renderings have been revealed for the renovation of the famed Castaways Beach Club at 1603 N DuSable Lake Shore Drive on North Avenue Beach. Sitting right on the beach itself, the boat-shaped club has been a local staple for many years. The project is being led by the club’s owner Stefani Restaurant Group.
Site context map of Castaways Beach Club via Google Maps
The boat-shaped structure, originally known as the North Avenue Boat House, was originally built in 1999 to replace the previous boat house which went up in 1931. Designed by GEC Design Group, the building went on to serve the over six million visitors to the beach. Throughout the years it held restrooms, concessions, and most importantly Chicago’s lifeguard training program.
Rendering of Castaways Beach Club via Stefani Restaurant Group
Castaways has called the location home for almost the same amount of time, closing last summer for renovations. Now the building is being remodeled and the 22,000 square-foot club will be revamped. A new paint scheme replaces the original nautical theme along with new lighting, flooring, and furniture. This will come with a new menu and cabana deck featuring DJ’s and bottle service.
Current view of Castaways Beach Club via Google Maps
The club will also be able to hold private groups of 25 to 500 guests, with tables facing the skyline and the beach. While the funnels are losing their iconic red-color, the restaurant under its new name will continue to be a summer icon. Castaways’ is now set to reopen for the season on Memorial Day this year, operating its normal summer season.
A press release can be found here.
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I’m a bit skeptical this opens within 4 weeks given as of yesterday it seemed like nothing has changed, at least from a physical appearance perspective. Regardless, always good to see an investment to improve, hopefully for the best
I hope Castaways does a better job telling us when it opens, like hours of operation and what day of Memorial Day weekend it opens, that Friday or Saturday???
They have needed to update this thing for a long time, glad to see it.
I live across the street, Beach, country club feeling, great fun.
Thought it was gentrification gray for a second. Would have fit.
I LOVE gentrification gray. It tells the hipsters that they’ve had their fun and now it’s time to move along.
I’m grateful for the investment, but does everything have to have alcohol these days? Whatever happened to family-friendly days at the beach?
North Avenue Beach and Castaways specifically would be the last places I would take my family. Plenty of other quiet beaches in the city that I take my family to for a beach day.