1308 Chicago

HE 1308 STORY

When we embarked on this concept, we used the location to speak to us on what it wanted to become. The location was home to an over 100 year old light fixture factory that caught fire. We kept that history, those charred wood beams, garage doors, and reusable materials to craft our theme and story for the concept.  

It already reminds you of a classic speakeasy and its tucked away inside the courtyard of the adjoining professional building for the hidden vibe or “if you know you know”.  

We played off that theme but decided to bring forth more of what the African American experience would have been during that era. What were the jazz clubs like in places like Bronzeville or Harlem at that time; who were the artists, what was the cuisine mainly made with? 

Our musical soundtrack fills the background, photos on the walls are of musicians of the time, and the main ingredient when we opened was corn. (That was most popular in the era! It was inexpensive and widely available). We took this and elevated this into what you see today. 

Also, we aren’t sure what happened during this fire, but we have even had guests report strange occurrences during their visits. Who knows, maybe we have our own built in security guard!