Impresario Peter Shapiro is apparently once again looking to expand his footprint into Chicago. According to a post today on Eater Chicago, the Brooklyn Bowl owner may be teaming with the Jerry Garcia Estate to open a new music venue in the city’s West Loop.
Shapiro had previously eyed an expansion of his Brooklyn Bowl franchise to open in the Windy City’s Fulton Market back in 2015, which eventually fell through. According to the report, the potential new venue, which will not include bowling, would be located at 1001 West Washington Boulevard. The site formerly housed the restaurant Wishbone for nearly three decades.
“I do have one comment now for the record,” Shapiro texted Eater when reached for comment. “I love Chicago.” Peter was one of the promoters of the Fare Thee Well – Celebrating 50 Years Of Grateful Dead concerts held at Soldier Field in Chicago — and at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California — in 2015. The Relix publisher previously teamed with the Jerry Garcia Estate to open the intimate Garcia’s next to his The Capitol Theatre venue in Port Chester, New York.
A recent report from Amplify noted the venue in Chicago will also be called “Garcia’s” and is described as a “seated jazz and jam venue.” The Amplify article also mentions Peter Shapiro is working on Nashville and Philadelphia outposts of Brooklyn Bowl with Live Nation. He’s also got a hold on Madison Square Garden in New York City for Phil Lesh’s 80th birthday on March 15, 2020 if Amplify’s report is to be believed. Shapiro did not deny Amplify’s report to Eater.
By Jeffrey Greenblatt & Scott Bernstein
