Straight-Friendly Hotel to Open in Chicago's Gay District

May 24 2013

by misterb&b

We've written quite a few times about The OUT NYC, the vibrant gay-centric hotel in the heart of New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. Having opened its doors in March 2012, it has since become a beloved institution in the community. Buoyed by their success, the founding owners are now planning to take their unique concept beyond the Big Apple, branching out to cities across the United States like Chicago and Washington and even crossing the Atlantic to Milan, Italy.

Currently, their most detailed plans revolve around a new venture in Chicago. The recently unveiled project features a 10-story hotel nestled on North Halsted Street in the middle of Boyztown, Chicago's lively gay district. With just a short stroll to the tranquil shores of Lake Michigan, the location couldn't be better(see the simulated image above). The planned 4-star establishment will offer 112 rooms and an array of amenities, including a spa, gym, restaurant, boutique, and charming terrace bar. Much like its New York predecessor, which welcomes a one-third straight clientele, The Out Chicago will also adopt a "straight-friendly" approach, ensuring it's not exclusively a gay hotel.

The developers also plan to integrate the Minibar, a local gay bar, into the new hotel. Positioned in the very spot where the hotel is set to rise, the Minibar will undergo a transformation to become one of the hotel's signature watering holes. Additionally, guests of the hotel would enjoy direct access to Sidetrack, a popular gay club situated just around the corner.

If everything proceeds according to plan, we could be celebrating the grand opening as soon as 2015. We'll keep our fingers crossed for this exciting expansion!