“The businesses had planned to open much earlier, but they were delayed by the pandemic. Odious Cellars, the brewery and taproom, lost its business loan after the lender redirected the money to coronavirus relief efforts. And Hive Space, the co-working space, hasn’t been able to move in because construction has taken longer than expected. Despite the setbacks, the owners of the respective businesses are still on track to open in the building at 3545-59 W. Armitage Ave. — just not for several months.
“The original plan was to open Odious Cellars in the old Armitage Theatre in August or September. The Logan Square building’s history dates back to the early 1900s, when it was home to the Bismark Theatre. It was later renamed the Armitage Theatre.
“Odious Cellars is slated to take over the actual theater space. ‘It is tremendously romantic,’ Joseph said of the space.
“Though the pandemic has created unforeseen obstacles, Joseph said he hasn’t given up on his dream of building a brewery and taproom dedicated to the beer he loves in the neighborhood where he’s lived for more than a decade.” (Bloom, 9/22/20)
While the Armitage Avenue façade has been extensively remodeled, we are happy to see this building repurposed and any remaining interior historic elements restored. The secondary theater façade on Drake Avenue is still visible.
