‘It felt like a secret’: Remembering Chicago’s Berlin nightclub

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago

Investigation, Chicago, Radio, Arts, Society & Culture, Public, Education, Curious, City

4.6 • 661 Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2026

⏱️ 25 minutes

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Summary

Berlin nightclub in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood closed permanently in November 2023, after four decades in business. The closure happened amid stalled negotiations between the bar’s owners and its unionizing employees. Today, the space remains empty, and it’s unclear what will take its place. In our last episode, Curious City looked into a mural that was a staple at Berlin for much of its existence. Today, we revisit an episode of WBEZ’s The Rundown podcast from just after the club closed. In asking some of the people who worked there, danced there and made memories there, it’s obvious that Berlin was more than just a bar. “It felt like a secret almost,” said All The Way Kay, who DJed at Berlin for over 15 years. “It felt like something that you wanted to hold very, very close to you because spaces like that really don't exist.” We talked with Kay, queer historian Owen Keehnen, DJ Greg Haus and several listeners who called The Rundown podcast to share what Berlin meant to them and what they hope for the future.

Transcript

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1:37.3	What's up, Chicago?
1:38.3	I'm Erin Allen, and this is Curia City.
1:40.1	New at 10 major disappointment tonight in Chicago's LGBTQ plus community following the abrupt closure of this iconic nightclub.
1:47.5	Berlin Nightclub. This place was an institution for the queer community in Chicago.
1:54.3	It closed back in 2023 after nearly 40 years in business.
1:58.7	The club's owners blamed rising operating costs.
2:01.6	The hospitality union unite here, local one, which had been working to unionize workers
	...

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