Initial details have been revealed for the upcoming expansion to the popular Salt Shed music complex at 1459 North Magnolia Avenue in West Town. Having opened the Salt Shed back in 2023 to great success, owners R2 Companies and Blue Star Properties have been looking to expand into the large vacant lot across the street from the existing venues.
Existing Salt Shed (green) – Upcoming expansion (red) via Google Maps
Back in 2025, Crain’s reported the potential purchase of the lot by the Salt Shed owners, with an estimated cost of $60 to $70 million to develop the property. Now, along with hospitality company 16” on Center, the team has submitted zoning plans to the city for the 10-acre site, which will hold concerts and potentially small festivals.
Landscaping plan of Salt Shed Expansion
Plans would begin with the removal of Blackhawk Street in exchange for a large plaza to connect the two sites; this road is currently closed during events already for queuing and security checks for the two existing venues. The plaza would connect to a new publicly accessible riverwalk and boat dock to the north, running along the waterfront.
Site map of Salt Shed Expansion
Directly north of the plaza will be the new venue, with an undisclosed capacity but previously mentioned to hold up to 15,000 people. The amphitheater-style facility will hold three separate sloping grass-covered seating structures capped by large general admission standing decks. Leading to the stage would be a large lawn area with a central bar.
A small section of assigned seating would sit in between the bar and the stage, with elevated staggered VIP seating sections along the west end of the venue. New restrooms and guest facilities would be included, with a small courtyard building set behind the stage for artist changing rooms, along with a small production facility building.
Elevations of Salt Shed Expansion
Behind this will be a large loading dock for production vehicles and venue supplies, accessed from Magnolia. This will be joined by a large parking lot with over 100 spaces. While not many more details or a timeline are known, the team will need full approval and plenty of infrastructure work prior to vertical construction.
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In exchange for closing Blackhawk (which is fine) and adding 100 surface parking spots (which I question), I’d like to get a pedestrian/bike bridge across the north branch at Blackhawk.
Why? You are already getting a bike path on Division next year from I90 all the way east to at least Orleans and back.
The Congress Theatre, meanwhile, will continue to languish
It’s a free market, of course, so people should be able to build concert/event spaces and let competition thrive, but…….I do worry that these new spaces in the city will only further put the prospects of renovating the Congress and Uptown Theatres further in the hole.
Dallas and Houston and other Sunbelt cities can build sundry things like this. But none of them have anything that resembles Chicago’s grand old movie palaces that are deteriorating year after year
You’re welcome to fund it.
Uptown and Congress absolutely need full attention and effort to fund and restore. I am glad to see the Salt Shed growth and success, hope this can fuel some restoration funding.
ATTN: The Uptown Theater is on the Open House Chicago tour list this weekend. So go and have a glimpse inside. It’s been closed since 1980. Not so great of a condition for sure.
1981