Garcia's concert venue opens in Chicago's West Loop

A new concert venue called Garcia’s has opened in Chicago, honoring the late Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia. The venue is located in the West Loop and has a capacity of 300 people. It is a partnership between Garcia's estate and concert promoter Peter Shapiro, who has a history of promoting Grateful Dead events. Trixie Garcia, Jerry's daughter, describes the venue as a “living musical endeavor” rather than a shrine to her father. The goal is to create a space that reflects Jerry's personality and passions without focusing on the typical Grateful Dead imagery. The first performance at Garcia's will feature Grahame Lesh and Friends, the son of Grateful Dead's founding bassist Phil Lesh. Shapiro aims to book a variety of musical genres at the venue, including bluegrass, jazz, folk, and rock, while also featuring some Grateful Dead songs. The restaurant will offer food inspired by Jerry's favorite dishes, like hot dogs and milkshakes. The idea for Garcia’s has been in the works for over a decade, but the pandemic delayed its opening. Shapiro decided to move forward with the project despite facing significant financial challenges during this time. Trixie Garcia expressed her trust in Shapiro's vision and dedication to the venue. Shapiro believes that Garcia’s unique acoustics and design will make it stand out among other venues in Chicago. Now that it’s open, both Shapiro and Trixie are excited to celebrate Jerry Garcia's legacy and provide a space for music lovers to enjoy. “It’s my job to share that as much as I can,” Trixie said, reflecting on the impact Jerry had on his fans.