Latest news with #GreenMill
Time Out
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Wait, is the Green Mill jazz club being sold? Here's what's going on with the iconic venue
One of Chicago's most storied nightlife landmarks, the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, is in the headlines again. But don't panic just yet, jazz lovers: While the historic Uptown building that houses the century-old club is officially for sale, the Green Mill itself isn't going anywhere. The two-story structure at the corner of Broadway and Lawrence, where Al Capone once drank and Billie Holiday once performed, hit the market earlier this week. The building spans more than 21,000-square feet and includes eight commercial units, including buzzy neighbors like Birrieria Zaragoza and Le Nocturne. Current owner Dave Jemilo, who bought the Green Mill in 1986 and the building in 2021 for $5 million, hasn't publicly commented on the listing. However, sources familiar with the sale told Crain's that the club's operations are expected to continue uninterrupted, according to Block Club Chicago. That's welcome news for locals and tourists who flock to the velvet-draped venue for nightly jazz, slam poetry and a dose of Prohibition-era Chicago lore. The Green Mill has long been a living time capsule: Its curved bar, vintage booths and dim amber lighting conjure the days when mobsters sipped whiskey in the infamous 'Capone booth,' strategically placed with sightlines to both exits. If that weren't enough intrigue, there's also the tunnel system under the club, a relic of its gangster past. Once used for bootlegging and backroom escapes, the underground lair is accessible by a trapdoor behind the bar and has been featured in several films. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WTTW | Chicago's PBS Station (@wttwchicago) Jemilo's ownership transformed the then-dilapidated joint into an international jazz destination. 'I didn't buy a gold mine,' he once told WTTW. 'I bought a dump and made it a gold mine.' Under his watch, the Green Mill helped birth the global poetry slam movement and attracted generations of jazz talent. Though no asking price is listed, the building's landmark status protects it from major structural changes or demolition. So even if a new landlord steps in, the soul of the Green Mill—the music, the mythology, the martinis—should stay intact. In other words: The neon still glows, the horns still wail and for now, your favorite Uptown haunt isn't closing its doors. Just don't try to sneak into the tunnels.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Uptown building that houses Chicago's iconic Green Mill is for sale
The Uptown building that houses the iconic Green Mill cocktail lounge and jazz club is up for sale. The landmark-protected building is located on the corner of Broadway and Lawrence Avenue on Chicago's North Side. While it contains multiple businesses, the Green Mill is one if its biggest draws because of its rich history. The Green Mill is over 100 years old, and was once a popular spot for infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone to see and be seen. It operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition. It continues to be a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, serving up cocktails along with nightly live music performances. According to Crain's Chicago, operations at the Green Mill aren't expected to be impacted by the sale of the building.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New owner paid $2.2 million for former Carbone's building with plans for Mexican restaurant
May 15—ROCHESTER — New life in the form of a Mexican restaurant is on the way to an empty Northwest Rochester building following a recent $2.2 million real estate deal. Restaurateur David Mendoza of Bismarck, North Dakota, purchased the former Carbone's Pizza/Crooked Pint building at 2723 Commerce Drive NW on April 30. Mankato-based CP Property Holdings, which acquired the complex for $1.85 million in 2016, was the seller. Rochester's Core Real Estate Group represented Mendoza with Tyler Cain taking the lead in the deal with support from Chad Behnken. Olmsted County estimated the total market value of the property at $1.78 million for 2025-2026. Mendoza, who has operated restaurants in South Dakota and Colorado, is working with his business partner Chef Rudy Nuñez on a plan to open something new in the Commerce Drive building. "We're bringing Ollin Cocina & Tequila, a modern Mexican restaurant to Rochester with an excellent tequila bar program and great traditional Mexican dishes," said Mendoza. The goal is for Chef Nuñez, who will operate the Rochester restaurant, to open it in September with a team of about 20 employees to staff it. Mendoza explained that they became interested in Rochester, while visiting Mayo Clinic. "It's a great community and the restaurant is in one of the best parts of Rochester, in my opinion. I think that's a beautiful area," he said. "It looks like Rochester is a great place to be with a great economy. It looks like it is going to just continue to grow and grow." The 6,800-square-foot building was originally built by Paul Dzubner, who was once the CEO of Green Mill, to house a Green Mill Restaurant in 2006. Rochester's Green Mill abruptly closed in 2015 on New Year's Day. Dzubner followed up The Green Mill by launching the Crooked Pint Ale House there in April 2015. The Crooked Pint closed during the COVID pandemic in 2020. The Crooked Pint brand returned to Rochester in 2022, when a location opened in the AmericInn by Wyndham hotel at 1625 S. Broadway. Dan Howard and Scott LaMott opened Carbone's Pizzeria in the Commerce Drive Northwest building in early 2022. Carbone's then shut its doors unexpectedly on Memorial Day 2024.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Jazz Takes Centre Stage In Chicago For 2026
1 May 2025 The announcement came from UN culture agency (UNESCO) on Wednesday, as this year's day was being celebrated in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi. The focus there was on 'Arabic Jazz', a tapestry of musical traditions, which included the use of classical instruments from the region such as the oud, qanun and ney. Following the jazz synthesis which ended on a high note in the UAE, the spotlight now turns to Chicago – where many would argue the golden era of jazz began as pioneers from New Orleans headed north during the 1920s. The midwestern city will host the renowned All-Star Global Concert, directed by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, featuring some of the world's most celebrated jazz artists. ' What better way for UNESCO to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States than by sharing its rich musical heritage with the world? ' said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO's Director-General. Rich jazz pedigree Chicago has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the genre for over a century. In the 1920s, musicians journeyed up the Mississippi and found in Chicago a vibrant creative hub. Legends like Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and Jelly Roll Morton helped define the 'Chicago style' of jazz – marked by bold solos, improvisation, big band arrangements, and the rising prominence of the saxophone. Today, the city remains a stronghold of jazz culture, home to renowned events such as the Chicago Jazz Festival and iconic venues including the Green Mill and the Jazz Showcase, which has been a cornerstone of the scene for 75 years. UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, a native of Chicago, reflected on what jazz has meant to him. ' It was in my high school auditorium in Chicago that I discovered jazz – an experience that ignited a lifelong passion,' he said. 'Jazz opened doors to creativity, self-expression, and freedom.' Events throughout the year In addition to the Global Concert, Chicago will host a range of events throughout 2026 to celebrate International Jazz Day, including concerts, educational programmes, discussions, and community activities. These will be organized in collaboration with the Chicago Jazz Alliance, the Ravinia Festival, the City of Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council, the State of Illinois, and other partners. Launched by UNESCO in 2011, International Jazz Day is observed annually on April 30 in over 190 countries. It celebrates the power of jazz as a force for peace, intercultural dialogue, and human dignity.
