“A famous Chicago landmark was officially turned into one of the most unique concert venues ever created one year ago on Sunday.
“After five years of renovation, The Salt Shed opened the inside venue on Feb. 18, 2023, and has continued to find unique ways of hosting memorable evenings at the historic space.
“‘It was a landmark of our childhood,’ owner Bruce Finkelman said. ‘It’s kind of a historical story about growing up in Chicago. When you hit that landmark of the Morton Salt Girl you knew you were going downtown.’
“Built between 1929 and 1930, the Morton Salt factory operated as a storage, packing, and distribution center until they closed the Elston facility in 2015. For 85 years, the ‘Elston Dock’ provided salt for residents, municipalities and other industries around Chicago and the Midwest.
“The iconic umbrella-carrying Morton Salt Girl design with the company slogan ‘When it Rains it Pours’ was painted in the early 1980s.
“‘It was a landmark of our childhood,’ owner Bruce Finkelman said. ‘It’s kind of a historical story about growing up in Chicago. When you hit that landmark of the Morton Salt Girl you knew you were going downtown.’
“Bruce and Craig will be focusing on The Salt Shed for now until they find a new project where they can revitalize a historic space in Chicago.
“‘The amazing blank canvas that that facility has given to us has provided us with the ability to organically continue to evolve that space,’ Finkelman said. ‘I’m really excited for the things that we’re going to able to provide to our Chicago neighborhood.’ (Curi, WGN, 2/16/24)