The Warehouse, the Birthplace of House Music, Receives Landmark Treatment
The Warehouse, a three-story loft in Chicago that also served as a dance club from the late 70s to mid-80s and is said to be the birthplace of house music has now been listed as a historic landmark following a vote Wednesday (June 21).
Located at 206 S. Jefferson St., the infrastructure initially served as a members-only venue for gay Black men before it became a nightclub and musical lab for famed DJ and producer Frankie Knuckles from 1977 through the mid-80s.
Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke on the motion, stating that “Chicago’s landmarks illustrate the story of our history and culture, (and) I’m proud that the City Council approved landmark designation for The Warehouse, a space regarded as the birthplace of house music and a safe haven for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ communities.”
Earlier this year, Preservation Chicago created a petition on change.org to preserve the 113-year-old West Loop building. The campaign ultimately gained tens of thousands of signatures.
