1800s Church That Was Turned Into An 'Iconic' Music Venue Hosts Small Shows

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many people in Chicago and beyond are craving live music.

Although it can’t return everywhere yet, the newest venue in the city found a way to open with socially-distanced live shows indoors.

Epiphany Center for the Arts is at 201 S. Ashland Ave. The site includes the former Church of the Epiphany (which dates back to the late 1800s), as well as three venues and more, Block Club Chicago reported Monday (March 15).

David Chase and Kimberly Rachal are the husband-and-wife duo behind the new venue, which has already hosted events for up to 50 masked attendees.

Chase explained to Block Club Chicago — a nonprofit news organization — that he didn’t envision the old church as an event space at first, but as the couple aimed to figure out what to do with the space that they bought in 2017, he became more passionate about it. “It actually changed my life completely,” he told the news outlet.

“Conceived with the vision to return Epiphany to a place for people to once again congregate in, the shuttered, historic Church of the Epiphany has been preserved and adapted into an iconic cultural hub ‘For the Good of Art, Entertainment and Events,’” the church-turned-venue’s website reads. “Thoughtfully designed, the exemplary 42,000 square foot campus boasts three distinct venues and a stunning array of amenities, including art studios, classroom, exhibit space and gallery, a commercial and catering kitchen, café, VIP suite and a collection of artistically appointed outdoor spaces; a charming quarter-acre courtyard, spacious terrace and stunning patio.”

Find more info about COVID-19 guidelines and upcoming evens from Epiphany Center for the Arts.

Photo: Getty Images