Developers of a planned upscale magic venue along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile are providing the first look behind the curtain of a lush, $50 million transformation of the former McCormick Mansion.
The Hand & The Eye’s creator and the project’s designer, the Rockwell Group, on Wednesday unveiled renderings of the five-level venue at 100 E. Ontario St., saying the space will include a mix of elements such as layered materials, ornated furniture, gilded lighting and 1800s artwork and artifacts gathered from collectors around the world.
Original lamps on the historic façade will be restored as part of the project, according to a statement from Rockwell Group and the project’s backer, Chicago entrepreneur Glen Tullman.
The $50 million project is a big bet on a high-end version of hands-on, immersive experiences that have gained popularity within retail real estate corridors in recent years.
The massive investment could add some luster to the nearby Magnificent Mile, the city’s best-known shopping avenue, which in recent years has struggled to fill large vacancies.
Recent progress includes the arrival of a big, Harry Potter-themed store, Paris-based Magnicity’s expansion of its 360 Chicago observatory into the former Signature Room restaurant space near the top of the 100-story former John Hancock Center skyscraper, a huge lease by Spanish clothing retailer Mango and new interactive gaming concepts.
New York-based Rockwell Group is led by Chicago native David Rockwell, who is known for designs of restaurants, Broadway shows and other spaces.
“It is a once in a lifetime honor to design a building that celebrates Chicago’s contribution to the history of magic and the legacy of the McCormick Mansion,” Rockwell said in the statement. “In keeping with The Hand & The Eye’s mission, we are designing a wonder- and discovery-filled collection of very special spaces where every detail matters, creating an unforgettable experience.”
Renderings show how the eye-catching space will provide a mix of magic venues and areas for dining, drinking and gathering. Members will have a dedicated entrance, according to a statement.
The Hand & The Eye, which bills itself as the world’s largest magic venue, is set to open in the spring.
“From the moment you arrive, the design transports you into a world of elegance, illusion, and unexpected wonder,” Tullman said in the statement. “No two visits will ever be the same for anyone.”
The mansion was occupied for more than four decades by Lawry’s The Prime Rib until the restaurant closed in 2020.
Chicago real estate investor Northpond Partners bought the building for $7.65 million in 2021, according to Cook County property records and CoStar data.
The Hand & The Eye finalized a lease for all 35,900 square feet in the building earlier this year.
Plans for the space were first reported by Crain’s Chicago Business last year.
In May, Tullman told the Chicago Tribune that the space will be intended to amaze visitors, who will be expected to dress up for the occasion.
“This will not be a jeans and sneaker kind of place,” Tullman told the newspaper.
Immersive performance spaces will include ornate features as a tribute to the puppet theater in the mansion in the 1930s, the statement said.
There also will be a members’ dining room with a custom mural, reflective ceiling and grand piano, a vault-themed room on the lower level, and a rooftop lounge.