{"id":60514,"date":"2026-04-14T07:42:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/60514\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T07:42:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:42:22","slug":"former-berlin-nightclub-transforming-into-cocktail-bar-and-dance-club-open-until-4-am","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/60514\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Berlin Nightclub Transforming Into Cocktail Bar And Dance Club \u2014 Open Until 4 AM"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAKEVIEW \u2014 The former home of Berlin Nightclub is transforming this month with a new name but a familiar ambition: to create one of Chicago\u2019s most beloved inclusive nightlife spaces.<\/p>\n

Berlin, a beloved queer bar, closed in late 2023. Now, the space at 954 W. Belmont Ave. will open April 25 as The Belmont, a craft cocktail bar, and Decibel, a late-night dance club, said Marcus Devin, the bar\u2019s new manager.<\/p>\n

The concept will operate as a cocktail bar earlier in the evening before transitioning into a club later at night, with music and programs meant to evoke Berlin\u2019s eclectic mix of techno, house and throwback hits.<\/p>\n

The building\u2019s new ownership group \u2014 tied to HV Entertainment, which operates several LGBTQ+ venues in Chicago including Fantasy, Bobby Loves, The Closet and the Chicago Eagle \u2014 committed to opening a more inclusive nightlife concept.<\/p>\n

The space has been remodeled with a new interior layout, upgraded sound and lighting systems and renovated bathrooms. The bar is expected to open April 25, pending final approvals from the city\u2019s planning and building inspection. <\/p>\n

The opening marks the latest chapter for a space that, for four decades, served as a cornerstone of Chicago\u2019s LGBTQ+ nightlife<\/a> \u2014 and a refuge for generations of clubgoers who found community on its dance floor.<\/p>\n

\"\"Berlin Nightclub employees outside the famed bar as they fought for a contract in 2023. Credit: Amber Stoutenborough\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Berlin Nightclub closed in November 2023 after 40 years in business<\/a>, following a month-long boycott tied to stalled contract negotiations between ownership<\/a> and its newly unionized staff.<\/p>\n

In announcing the closure, owners Jim Schuman and Jo Webster said rising costs \u2014 including security, insurance and rent \u2014 made it impossible to continue operating without fundamentally changing the bar\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe magic that happened at 954 W. Belmont will never be recreated,\u201d the owners wrote at the time.<\/p>\n

Workers and supporters pushed back, saying the closure came amid a broader fight for better wages and working conditions at a venue long seen as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ Chicagoans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of pain in the community right now,\u201d one worker said at the time.<\/p>\n

Beyond the labor dispute, the closure marked the loss of what many described as an \u201cisland of misfit toys\u201d \u2014 a place where drag performers, artists and clubgoers could experiment, perform and exist freely.<\/p>\n

Berlin opened in 1983 and became known for its anything-goes ethos, hosting drag shows, themed dance nights and performances that helped launch the careers of countless artists.<\/p>\n

\"\"Berlin Nightclub, 954 W. Belmont Ave. Credit: Amber Stoughtenborough<\/p>\n

In the months after Berlin closed, the future of the space was up in the air.<\/p>\n

At one point, a Florida-based male strip club operator explored opening in the building, prompting backlash from neighbors and LGBTQ+ advocates<\/a> over concerns about inclusivity and hiring practices. More than 1,500 people signed a petition opposing the plan.<\/p>\n

Those plans ultimately fell through.<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LAKEVIEW \u2014 The former home of Berlin Nightclub is transforming this month with a new name but a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60515,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[5800,112,438,190],"class_list":{"0":"post-60514","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-berlin","8":"tag-bars","9":"tag-berlin","10":"tag-business","11":"tag-germany"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@dk\/116401939831001152","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60514\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}