Plans have been revealed for the redevelopment of the former Lawry’s The Prime Rib at 100 E Ontario Street in the Magnificent Mile area. Located on the corner with N Rush Street, the project will convert the historical McCormick Mansion into a new magic-based, adults only, experience dubbed ‘The Hand & The Eye’.
Site context map of The Hand & The Eye via Google Maps
Late last year we reported on various happenings around Michigan Avenue, including the first clues for this new experience. Since then, work has started on the 35,000 square-foot project, led by local developer Glen Tullman and designed by The Rockwell Group. The team is also working with various magicians to guide the final product.
Levy Restaurants will run the food and beverage aspects. Those will include a full restaurant with a dress code, and multiple bars staffed with bartenders who have experience with magic. In total there will be 37 rooms including seven larger theaters that can seat 25 to 100 guests. This will be joined by a small retail component.
View of 100 E Ontario Street via NorthPond
The building will also receive a small vertical expansion in order to add a rooftop deck. The venue hopes to attract locals and tourists, with a membership and building tours also being offered. In total, the project will cost around $50 million, a big increase from our originally reported $13 million. Work is underway and is expected to wrap up by next spring.
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How come I didn’t read about this in Poof!?
What a shame! Lawry’s was first-class for this building. And now magic shows.
I agree 100%.
Lawry’s was never coming back, so it’s an empty building now. A shame that they’re repurposing this into a high class establishment and preserving/restoring the showpiece design elements??? This has been reported elsewhere but it’ll be more expensive than Lawry’s with a stricter dress code. Not sure if you’ve seen high-class magic venues but “magic show” doesn’t mean what you may think it means.
You’ll watch your wallet ‘disappear’as a well-versed Al Capone performs some Tommy Gun spectacles.
I hope Weiner Circle does catering.
Some lady was on Twitter was freaking saying Chicago didn’t need more establishments of sin…
Wait till she hears what happens at Cubs and Bears games. World Naked Bike Race? No way they’d base a novel on some devil and a white settlement here. No way, no how.
Wow, how on earth, by anyone’s definition of sin, is a magic venue sinful!? If we’re going with that, then the steakhouse that used to be there was also guilty of violating at least two sins, gluttony sprinkled with some animal cruelty. 🐮
I bet they even served steak on Fridays of Lent… smh
Maybe they’ll be able to magically make all the Nimbies in River North disappear so we can get some more skyscrapers.
Details are sparse in this article but the plans seem very ambitious…budget to get a ticket/reservation will be well over $100/pp and probably much more. I think there will be a lot of interest but I’m not sure the city can sustain enough high-end tourism 12 months of the year to make this profitable. We’ll see, I hope I’m wrong and this place does gangbusters business!
Very smart… Love this idea. Still, it’s a shame that Lawry’s closed. Such an iconic restaurant and one I visited often.