Sitting unused since 2013 along a high-volume stretch of the Lakefront Trail in Lincoln Park, the Theater on the Lake is getting a $7 million facelift. The 1920s Prairie-style building is being restored by architects Kaufman O’Neil and Demarsh Construction, and the space will be run as a partnership between the Chicago Park District and Lakefront Hospitality Group. It’s expected to open mid-August.

The 19,000-square-foot space is currently a screened-in structure that’s only usable for a few months out of the year. Now the theater will be enclosed in glass windows, transforming the space into a year-round venue for performances, dining, and private events. It will include a 100-seat patio, two-room event space, and bar.

Rendering Courtesy of Kaufman O'neil Architecture

The space will retain much of its Prairie features, but it will be updated to include cement flooring and a wood-topped, wrought-iron-framed bar. 

The space will not only get a facelift but is also going to be headed by two big names in Chicago entertainment and cuisine. Joe Shanahan of the music club Metro will be in charge of booking weekly music acts and Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions and Fountainhead will be the head chef. 

In addition to the event space, the Theater on the Lake will have a 125-seat full-service tavern called the Lakefront, which will serve seasonal and local French-inspired food. The space will be open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. 

In addition to the tavern, Friedman is also planning a concession stand east of the bike path that will be a place for people to gather for a beer and a burger and play games.