Double Door in serious danger!

By chi_jim
June 2nd, 2005 @ 3:00 PM Uncategorized

Usually I wouldn’t just copy and paste a press release verbatim…but this is an unusual occasion:

On June 9, 2005 Double Door, Chicago

10 Comments so far

  1. Jennifer Roche (unregistered) on June 2nd, 2005 @ 9:34 pm

    turn into a rock and roll non=profit cultural institution a la old town school of folk music and get city to donate space in area?


  2. tankboy (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 6:27 am

    no,actually the owners of the building want a banana republic to move in. maybe that place was viewed as a cultural arbiter in the ’80s but…

    if double door loses there will be no premier destion for live music in wicker park. there will be venues, but nowhere of the mid-range size that attracts national acts like double door does.


  3. nikkos (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 8:52 am

    According to NPR this morning, the owners think they can “quadruple” the rent they receive by kicking Double Door out and bringing a retailer “like” Banana Republic in.

    Unless DD can afford to pay 4 times their current rent (unlikely) it looks as if they’ll be forced to close, or move.

    I suggest a musical filibuster/sit-in. Get some of those bands that got their start at DD to come back and help out.

    This whole thing is a bit ironic as it’s clearly blowback from the whole process of gentrification (oh, that’ll definitely get a response).


  4. paul (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 9:41 am

    Does Banana Republic really think it can sell enough women’s khaki and linne blouses (do they even sell anything a man would buy anymore?) to survive with that rent? Especially after pissing off all the neighbors by erasing the Double Door?

    If I was a Banana Rep. exec., I think seriously about the PR implications of moving into that space.


  5. Kat (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 11:23 am

    Sorry for the long cut’n’paste, but here’s something that’s going around.

    HOW YOU CAN HELP

    Attend the court hearing on June 9th, 2005 at 2pm at the Cook County Courthouse, Room 2601 in Daley Center.

    Write a letter to Alderman Manny Flores expressing your support for Double Door at ward01@cityofchicago.org

    Sample letter:

    Dear Alderman Flores,

    I am writing to express my concern over the fate of venerable Chicago music venue Double Door. Double Door is currently involved in a court battle with their landlords over their lease agreement. The outcome of this lawsuit will determine the future of the club.

    Double Door is an integral part of the cultural and music scene in Chicago, and has nurtured the careers of many local and national artists since opening in 1994. Double Door has brought attention, visitors and culture to our city, and to lose this institution would be a great blow to Chicago’s musical landscape.

    (ADD YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH DOUBLE DOOR HERE – Did your band play at Double Door? Do you love to come to Double Door for shows? Etc.)

    I strongly urge you to join me in supporting Double Door in their fight to remain open and continue to bring great music to Chicago for many years to come.

    Sincerely,

    (YOUR NAME HERE)

    Write a letter to the editor expressing your support for Double Door –

    Chicago Sun-Times – letters@suntimes.com mailto:letters@suntimes.com

    Chicago Tribune – ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com mailto:ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com

    Chicago Reader – letters@chicagoreader.com mailto:letters@chicagoreader.com

    Sample letter:

    Dear Editor,

    I am writing to express my concern over the fate of venerable Chicago music venue Double Door. Double Door is currently involved in a court battle with their landlords over their lease agreement. The outcome of this lawsuit will determine the future of the club.

    Double Door is an integral part of the cultural and music scene in Chicago, and has nurtured the careers of many local and national artists since opening in 1994. Double Door has brought attention, visitors and culture to our city, and to lose this institution would be a great blow to Chicago’s musical landscape.

    (ADD YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH DOUBLE DOOR HERE – Did your band play at Double Door? Do you love to come to Double Door for shows? Etc.)

    I strongly urge all Chicago music fans to join me in supporting Double Door in their fight to remain open and continue to bring great music to Chicago for many years to come.

    Sincerely,

    (YOUR NAME HERE)


  6. tankboy (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 11:56 am

    thanks kat! i got the original shortened e-mail yesterday that didn’t have all that additional info.


  7. Katie (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 12:09 pm

    Thanks for the form letters. I sent the link to this page to everyone I know in Chicago.


  8. steven (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 2:13 pm

    thanks for the letters, kat. i’ll send them out asap.


  9. Gina (unregistered) on June 3rd, 2005 @ 5:10 pm

    This is making me want to cry. If Double Door closes, I’m moving to Canada.


  10. Kat (unregistered) on June 7th, 2005 @ 3:47 pm

    At http://www.savedoubledoor.com there’s also an online petition you can sign. Over 1300 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.



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