Hideout owners sell to musician after 30 years

After 30 years, the owners of The Hideout have sold the club to performer and former staffer Teri O'Brien.

Why it matters: The club has served as a beacon for small, independent Chicago venues, with owners Tim and Katie Tuten and partners Mike and Jim Hinchsliff helping support emerging artists and other clubs through the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL)

What they're saying: "The Hideout will stay the Hideout," said former co-owner Tim Tuten. "It will remain independent, creative and rooted in the community that built it. Teri knows our room, the people and our history, and she has the heart to carry it forward."

• "You know, Tony Fitzpatrick's passing really hit us hard and we realized that we're getting older," former co-owner Katie Tuten tells Axios. "We're at an age now where a lot of our friends are retiring. So it just seemed like the right time."

Between the lines: The Hideout will continue its regular programming, with the staff remaining central to the venue's day-to-day operations.

• The owners said the public will see no major changes in the look, feel or culture of the space.
• "I think of the Hideout as the people's place," former Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a release.
• "Tim and Katie Tuten carefully cultivated and nurtured a fun, inclusive environment, and they should be commended for their contribution to Chicago's civic life."

Zoom in: The Hideout has been a performance home for several influential musicians and performers, including Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, Robbie Fulks and Kelly Hogan. It has also served as Axios Chicago's live venue.

• "The Hideout has always felt like a continuation of the friendly, diehard music community we had back at Lounge Ax," Jeff Tweedy said in a release. "They treat their customers and bands like family."

What's next: "It is an honor of a lifetime to take on this role, to support the staff and community who make the Hideout what it is," O'Brien said in a statement.

• "The soul of this place stays exactly where it belongs — with the people who fill it."

The bottom line: "The Cubs or the White Sox can change management, but you're still a fan of the team," Tim Tuten adds. "We hope we built a legacy institution and we have a new owner who will make it even better."