Berlin nightclub to reopen as Belmont and Decibel
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Lakeview's Berlin closed in 2023 but will reopen this month with an early evening cocktail bar and then a late night dance club with the old Berlin vibe. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
After closing its doors in late 2023, Lakeview's Berlin nightclub space will reopen this month as The Belmont, a craft cocktail bar, and Decibel, a dance bar.
Why it matters: For 40 years, Berlin hosted a unique mix of LGBTQ and straight clubbers for late-night dance parties in an inclusive environment.
- Managers tell Axios they want to recreate that special scene.
What they're saying: "The goal is for everyone to feel comfortable here, as long as they're comfortable with everyone else," says Marcus Devin, one of the new club's managers, who previously worked at Berlin.
Driving the news: The Belmont/Decibel (954 W. Belmont Ave.) will open to the public on April 25, pending final city approval.
How it works: The club will operate as The Belmont cocktail bar in the early evenings, but pull back a curtain and morph into Decibel after 10pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Backstory: Berlin owners Jim Schuman and Jo Webster closed the legendary club in 2023 amid union demands that they said they lacked the funds to accommodate.
- The new owner is HV Entertainment, which owns local LGBTQ clubs including Fantasy, Bobby Loves, The Closet and the Chicago Eagle.
What's new: Fresh lighting, a new sound system, clean remodeled bathrooms and two twinkling bars.
What's old: The "retro vibe" that manager and former Berlin staffer Austin Neff says he hopes to recreate with "techno, house, '80s, '90s and early 2000s music" spun by Berlin DJ Greg Haus.
- Berlin's elevated dance stages that could host drag performers again in the fall.
The drinks: Expect fancy craft cocktails at The Belmont until 10pm, but simpler drinks at Decibel.
If you go: The Belmont will be open Tuesday-Saturday and charge a $5-10 cover for Decibel after 10pm.