From the inbox: Soho House Chicago to open in August

From the inbox this week - what a great addition this will be to the city when it opens this summer!

SOHO HOUSE CHICAGO OPENS AUGUST 2014

The London-born Soho House has announced the August 2014 opening of its new outpost in Chicago. Located in the thriving West Loop district, Soho House Chicago marks the group's fifth location in North America, joining New York, Miami Beach, West Hollywood, and Toronto.

Established in 1995 by Founder and CEO Nick Jones, Soho House originated as a private members' club for those in the film, media, and creative industries. The group has gradually and carefully expanded its offerings to include restaurants, cinemas, spas, and hotels. At locations worldwide, the ethos of the Houses remains the same - to create a comfortable, home away from home for a community of like-minded members and guests.

While emulating a signature style, every Soho House takes on a distinct look and feel that celebrates and draws inspiration from its local area. Soho House Chicago is housed in a six-story warehouse dating back to 1907, the original manufacturing center of the Chicago Belting Factory. Designed in-house by the Soho team, native features of the building include an ornamented entrance and large, open floor plans with an exposed concrete structural system. Several of the building's original elements - such as the fire safety glass and wooden panels from the original water tower structure - will be repurposed in the space to capture distinct moments in Chicago's history. Artwork plays a great role in the overall design; Jonny Yeo and Francesca Gavin, curators for Soho House, will collaborate with Chicago-based artists whose works will be seamlessly weaved throughout the property.

Key features of of Soho House Chicago will include:

·	40 guest rooms, 19 located on the third floor and 21 on the fourth floor. All bedrooms are meant to provide a comfortable, airy respite for guests. All rooms include uniquely sourced furniture and artwork, rainforest showers, and Cowshed products.Opening rates for bedrooms will start at $160 per night and may be booked at www.sohohousechicago.com this spring.
·	Two, public-facing restaurants join the bustling restaurant community on Chicago's famed Restaurant Row. Both will be located on the ground level - each with their own entrance - and will champion the bounty of ingredients indigenous to the Midwest: ·   Pizza East will serve rustic pizzas made from traditional, seasonal ingredients. A ciabatta style, slow-proved dough is handmade in house every day, fired up in wood-burning ovens with an array of natural ingredients as toppers. An open layout will provide a firsthand view of the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.   ·   Chicken Shop serves up free-range birds, which are marinated overnight, steamed and then cooked over charcoal on a special rotisserie. Taking inspiration from 1950s American general stores, guests will revel in a fun, casual setting while indulging in a rare taste of rotisserie in Chicago.   Both restaurants will be open seven days per week, with seating available on a walk-in basis.
·	Allis Bar, open to the public, is a bar and lounge located on the ground level, and affords an energetic gathering place for those seeking a social vibe and a well-edited selection of wine, craft beers, and finely made cocktails. The bar is aptly named after the Allis family, who owned the Chicago Belting Factory. (The name "Allis Building" is also inscribed above the building's front entranceway.)
·	Cowshed spa and salon, located on the ground level, is available to the public, with five treatment rooms, six mani-pedi stations, a men's grooming area, a blow dry bar, and retail component. With playful names that will resonate with all, at the heart of Cowshed products are the finest formulations inspired by their British heritage. Thoughtful scents, colors, botanical ingredients, and herbal remedies form the basis for an ever-expanding range of honest products made with organic and fairly traded plant extracts and essential oils.
·	A fully outfitted fitness center is located on the second floor, available to members and guests. The facilities include a 12,000 square foot gym with three workout studios, changing rooms, steam rooms, and a boxing ring fashioned by the famous, Chicago-based Horween Leather Company.
·	A 40-seat screening room is housed on the fourth floor.
·	A Club Floor resides on the fifth level. Available to members and guests, it features a drawing room, pantry bar, club bar and house kitchen and grill.
·	At the building's highest point, Soho House Chicago will include a glass- enclosed rooftop bar and kitchen and outdoor deck with an  80-foot swimming pool. With stunning views of the city's architecture, these areas will be available to members and guests.

For more information, visit www.sohohousechicago.com.

About Soho House Group

Soho House was founded in London, in 1995, as a private members' club for those in the film, media and creative industries. The group has gradually expanded to include Houses across Europe and North America, as well as restaurants, cinemas, spas and hotels.

The clubs include the original Soho House, Babington House in Somerset, Electric House, High Road House, Shoreditch House, Little House Mayfair, Soho House Berlin, Soho House New York, Soho House West Hollywood Soho Beach House Miami and Soho House Toronto. (Babington, High Road, Shoreditch, Berlin, New York and Miami also host hotel rooms).

The portfolio includes 15 public restaurants to date; Café Boheme, Soho Kitchen & Bar, Electric Diner, High Road Brasserie, Hoxton Grill, Cecconi's Mayfair, Cecconi's West Hollywood, Cecconi's Miami, Pizza East Shoreditch and Pizza East Portobello, Chicken Shop Kentish Town and Chicken Shop Tooting, Dirty Burger Kentish Town and Dirty Burger Vauxhall. In 2009, the Group launched its first standalone hotel, Dean Street Townhouse, hosting 39 bedrooms and an all-day restaurant. The group has also developed the Cowshed spa and salon along with a line of Cowshed-branded hair and body products.