From ChicagoPride.com: "Chicago, IL — Crobar Chicago, 1543 N Kingsbury St, will officially be closing it's doors after "The Last Dance" celebration on April 17.
Crobar Chicago is the original in a chain which started the success of nationally acclaimed Crobar in New York City, Miami and Buenos Aires. The nightclub originally opened in 1992 in the industrial corridor of Chicago and reopened again in 2003 after a nearly one year renovation and reconstruction. Crobar locations in New York and Miami have also recently closed.
The popular nightclub was made famous by celebrity clientele such as Dennis Rodman and Bill Corgan. Rodman will help close the club when he hosts a party on Saturday.
"The music was dirty, deep, louder than hell, full of bass and progressive while the massive LGBT crowds filled every sweaty corner and partied along side the likes of Dennis Rodman, Jeremy Piven and Carmen Electra," recalled promoter Matthew Harvat who launched Circuit MOM at the nightclub in 1997. "Often, it was so packed and hot, the ceiling would drip rusty condensation, but no one complained, instead wore the rust stains as a badge of honor."
From the beginning, Crobar Chicago catered to the gay community with well-attended special events such as SuperStar Sundays on Market Days and Pride, Fireball, IML, Labor Day and Halloween; however, the nightclub was probably best known for G.L.E.E. Club which became a Sunday night institution and the longest running gay-themed weekly party in Chicago.
After it's remodel 2003, Crobar Chicago hosted the gay-themed Anthem Sundays which was produced by G.L.E.E. creator Paolo Pincente and Harvat.
Crobar Chicago's gay-themed events featured world-renowned DJs, including Timo Maas, Tony Moran, Joe Gauthreaux, Ralphi Rosario, Lydia Prim, Tracy Young, Manny Lehman, Frankie Knuckles and Victor Calderone.
"Many amazingly talented people shared their passion for club culture and music with the world audience that came to revel in the Crobar mayhem. Never one to follow, Crobar will always stand alone as an iconic treasure to the clubland creatures it crafted," Harvat told ChicagoPride.com.
"New York had Twilo, Tunnel, Paradise Garage and even a Crobar hybrid, but the original Crobar in Chicago, the one that gave me my start will forever remain the deep and dirty phantasmagorical vessel of music, muscle and memories which will never, ever be replaced in my heart".
The 6000 square foot space is reportedly to become a new club, The Vibe, which has yet to announce an opening date. "
