TAO Chicago Renderings Reveal a Total River North Revamp for Upcoming Clubstaurant

NOTE: Four Corners’ Matt Menna called on Wednesday night and clarified that even though the renderings were listed on Sterling Bay’s website for the Chicago location, they were in fact from a New York location. There probably won’t be any further news about TAO Chicago until the winter and they plan on opening during the second quarter of 2018.

Patience is a virtue. But if Chicagoans can’t wait for the party to start at TAO—the lavish Pan-Asian clubstaurant with locations in New York and Las Vegas—to open in River North in early 2018, take a look at these new renderings uncovered by Curbed Chicago. TAO is slated to open early next year inside the landmarked building at that once housed nightclubs Castle and Excalibur at 632 N. Dearborn St.

It appears TAO Group, which is partnering locally with Four Corners Tavern Group (Benchmark, West End, etc.), will give the space a major facelift. There are benches in the middle of a staircase, a disco ball, a mural painted on top of exposed brick, and TAO’s signature oversized buddhist imagery. The building, erected in 1882, was the original headquarters for the Chicago Historical Society (now headquartered in Lincoln Park and known as the Chicago History Museum).

It’s a massive transformation for the 34,000-square-foot space inside the 135-year-old building. Take a sneak peek below.

Sterling Bay

Sterling Bay

Sterling Bay