Open Books holds our annual fundraising event, Make the Case, at Moonlight Studios. It's a unique event space with many huge rooms. I loved mixing and mingling as I worked away the night watching the teams build and decorate their bookcases, which we then stocked with books and delivered throughout Chicago to communities in need. Hooray Literacy! read more

We waited in line for almost 2 HOURS only to eventually be told by other ppl in line they had reached/rescheduled capacity for the Smirnoff event on 5/14. I completely understand it was a free event and things can get hectic, but the lack of communication from staff really left a bad impression. We RSVP'd ahead of time and had QR codes, yet no one ever asked to check them. Meanwhile, people were being pulled from the line because they knew someone or recognized a famous person. No hate or hard feelings, I get how events work but it definitely felt frustrating for the people who actually registered and waited patiently. Better communication and organization would have made a huge difference. read more

Moonlight Studios - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've attended several events at Moonlight Studio, and I think that it's a wonderful event venue. The building looks very small on the outside, and it's slightly difficult to locate since its surrounded by other businesses, But the inside of the venue is huge. It's a very beautiful and modern venue which is perfect for hosting, social events, weddings, receptions, galas, etc. The parking can be difficult in that area. There is street parking, but it's important to arrive early. They do not have a private lot. read more

Moonlight Studios - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had our company all team week and it was the perfect space to bring our employees from all over the country and Canada together!

If you value follow-through on contractual commitments, DO NOT work with Moonlight Studios and Sound Investment. If you value helpful service, timely follow-ups, and proactive issue resolution, DO NOT work with Moonlight Studios and Sound Investment. And most importantly - if you value working with people and businesses of integrity, DO NOT work with Moonlight Studios and Sound Investment. Full story below: -- We booked Moonlight Studios in 2019 for our May 2021 Indian wedding. We liked that the space was a blank canvas and that it accommodated our large guest count of 500 people. Due to COVID, we made the decision to postpone our wedding to May 2022 and communicated this to the venue. They refused to move our deposit to the new date because they could not fill the old date (to this day, we are not sure if they ever filled the original date- they responded cagily to all of our follow-ups) and they asked us to pay another deposit for 2022, which was higher due to inflation. Though disappointed, we paid and moved on. In 2020, after not hearing from anyone at the venue for months, we made a surprise visit to Moonlight Studios and learned from a Sound Investment employee that the venue was now being used as a production studio to host virtual events during COVID. We were also surprised to learn from this employee that our point person from the venue was in Poland. We did a walkthrough and saw that the venue was now filled with lots of AV equipment, lighting, and a newly built stage, very different from the "blank canvas" venue we saw back in 2019. We noticed that one of the galleries that we intended to rent had also been converted to a control room. After following up with our point person, we were assured that EVERYTHING would be removed by the time of our wedding in May 2022 as the venue converted back into an event space. In November 2021, we reached out to our point person by email and asked to schedule a walkthrough with our decorator. She asked me to call her (rather than risk putting it in writing) to "clarify a few things". I called her and she told me very casually that the new stage COULD NOT be removed in time for our wedding and the gallery would have to remain a control room. Thus, the venue's capacity was no longer 500 but more like 300. After several (angry) follow-ups on our part, we were finally told that Sound Investment had to make a business decision to stay afloat during COVID. We implored them to remove the stage considering Moonlight is a leased space and it can't be a permanent fixture. They refused...probably because it would cost them thousands to do so. I can understand that businesses did what they had to to survive during COVID. However, what I found absolutely unacceptable is that NO ONE reached out to us to tell us of this change UNTIL I REACHED OUT FIRST. OUR WEDDING WAS 6 MONTHS AWAY. While a refund was offered, but this was a clear breach of contract and we had every right to take legal action for damages. In the end, we decided against suing, feeling like we didn't want to spend another second of our time on folks who so clearly don't deserve it. We are so fortunate to have found a new venue that is run by professionals and not scam artists. read more

Confusing to find with minimal parking and GPS may take you on bumpy alleys and back roads like it did us. Decent space. Lighting can be done in a cool way and space for a stage/dancing as it's a huge open space. I recently attended an event there and corners were filled with furniture overstock and other things so it looked messy. Clean bathrooms. read more

This review is long overdue! We were lucky to find this great space, thanks to my mother for finding Moonlight Studios and we were lucky to be the first wedding Moonlight Studios hosted. Fell in love with this venue, the moment, my mom, sister, the wedding planners (Lil Epic Events) and I walked in and were wow'd at the raw space, huge chandeliers and tall ceilings. From the outside you would never know the beauty that's on the inside, It had the urban, elegant and luxurious loft space that we wanted. This unique venue catered to us, as we wanted something a little different for our guests, we had so many guests tell us this was THE BEST wedding they've ever been to. Vive was amazing, from the initial point of contact to the end of our event, she was very attentive. read more

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If you value follow-through on contractual commitments, DO NOT work with Moonlight Studios and Sound Investment. If you value helpful service, timely follow-ups, and proactive issue resolution, DO NOT work with Moonlight Studios and Sound Investment. And most importantly - if you value working with people and businesses of integrity, DO NOT work with Moonlight Studios and Sound Investment. Full story below: -- We booked Moonlight Studios in 2019 for our May 2021 Indian wedding. We liked that the space was a blank canvas and that it accommodated our large guest count of 500 people. Due to COVID, we made the decision to postpone our wedding to May 2022 and communicated this to the venue. They refused to move our deposit to the new date because they could not fill the old date (to this day, we are not sure if they ever filled the original date- they responded cagily to all of our follow-ups) and they asked us to pay another deposit for 2022, which was higher due to inflation. Though disappointed, we paid and moved on. In 2020, after not hearing from anyone at the venue for months, we made a surprise visit to Moonlight Studios and learned from a Sound Investment employee that the venue was now being used as a production studio to host virtual events during COVID. We were also surprised to learn from this employee that our point person from the venue was in Poland. We did a walkthrough and saw that the venue was now filled with lots of AV equipment, lighting, and a newly built stage, very different from the "blank canvas" venue we saw back in 2019. We noticed that one of the galleries that we intended to rent had also been converted to a control room. After following up with our point person, we were assured that EVERYTHING would be removed by the time of our wedding in May 2022 as the venue converted back into an event space. In November 2021, we reached out to our point person by email and asked to schedule a walkthrough with our decorator. She asked me to call her (rather than risk putting it in writing) to "clarify a few things". I called her and she told me very casually that the new stage COULD NOT be removed in time for our wedding and the gallery would have to remain a control room. Thus, the venue's capacity was no longer 500 but more like 300. After several (angry) follow-ups on our part, we were finally told that Sound Investment had to make a business decision to stay afloat during COVID. We implored them to remove the stage considering Moonlight is a leased space and it can't be a permanent fixture. They refused...probably because it would cost them thousands to do so. I can understand that businesses did what they had to to survive during COVID. However, what I found absolutely unacceptable is that NO ONE reached out to us to tell us of this change UNTIL I REACHED OUT FIRST. OUR WEDDING WAS 6 MONTHS AWAY. While a refund was offered, but this was a clear breach of contract and we had every right to take legal action for damages. In the end, we decided against suing, feeling like we didn't want to spend another second of our time on folks who so clearly don't deserve it. We are so fortunate to have found a new venue that is run by professionals and not scam artists. read more

I attended Olive Garden's Virtual Reality Train Ride dinner. They were presenting their new Mediterranean menu at this venue. I always get excited to explore lofty areas and converted buildings. Moonlight Studios sits right along the tracks at the end of a dead end. I love the grit of Kinzie street as I was pulling up to drop off the car at complimentary valet. This building is huge but the event I attended was for 40 diners plus service workers, a more intimate party. The spaces utilized were first, welcoming room used for sign-in and coat check. Exposed brick wall and concrete pillars. Second, the main hallway and last, another room that was intimate but big enough to transform into a simulated Italian train station concourse with different food carts, actors, and a life size train dinning car! Later in the night, that same space was used as an outdoor Italian cafe with live accordion player! Olive Garden's decor was impeccable down to the last detail and in every room including the hallway brought us into Italy! I noticed another massive room that holds larger events and I regret not sneaking off to explore the rest of this space! Lol All in all this is fantastic venue for events both large and small! I hope I have the opportunity to visit again! read more

Last night I attended the Lexus Uptown Uncorked event at Moonlight Studio's. Nice to see fellow yelpers in attendance! It was pretty easy to find and thank goodness they offered us free valet parking (I'm sure valet is based on whatever event your attending) because parking looked a little scarce. Once inside the event space was large and set up quite nicely. The lights were glaringly bright, but I know it was too show off the cars and they were also taking pics/filming. The bathrooms were easily accessible and the set -up of the food stands, DJ booth, and car displays were on point. All around no complaints. I can see the space being easily transformed into whatever event you are trying to hold. read more

Moonlight Studios - Lexus uptown uncorked event - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

UNIQUE SPACE Just when I thought I had been to every event space in Chicago, I go to another unique converted warehouse space. This city knows how to party and we are lucky that we use to build things in America. If we didn't then we would have these giant empty warehouses to have parties in. There is a sarcastic compliment inside here somewhere. We attended the "Strange Food Festival" here and had a great time. I loved how the venue was located at a dead end on Kinzie Street. There was only one way in and you were literally trapped by the wall of the railroad tracks. Most secret spies would call this a trap or an effective place to ambush your enemy. While waiting in line to get in, I had a chance to appreciate the beautiful brick wall by the railroad. This texture would be a great backdrop for photos. I was already in love with this venue and I haven't even stepped foot inside yet. Once inside there was a great hallway into the main venue in back. I loved the giant room with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I'm so curious where they found those fixtures. I'm sure from some old banquet hall that is no longer open. The lights worked well for the large open space. I noticed that there were two smaller rooms off the main hallway. This space could definitely hold both large and small scale events. I also loved that there was never a long line for the rest room. Sometimes this is an issue at an event space but not here. So if you are looking to throw a party in a cool old Chicago style warehouse then look no further. This location has everything for your next big bash in Chicago. read more

Versatile space with friendly employees. Location: this can be slightly tricky to find. I came in an Uber and the GPS stopped us on Hubbard and told us we were there. (Note the address is Kinzie). We went around the block and realized that this studio was tucked into an alley, by a mural. The space was beautiful - industrial feeling and clean. There were enough restrooms to accommodate our group of ~50, and the lighting and general set up was clean. read more

I was the co-chair of a nonprofit organization's annual Chicago gala this past weekend and it was the first year it was held at Moonlight Studios. This event space was perfect for our event and I could not have been more pleased with the experience. The staff is helpful and accommodating and the event came together perfectly. Parking in the area can be challenging, so definitely plan in advance with valet or rental of a nearby lot. We encouraged our guests to use ride sharing options, but since many were coming from the suburbs, we knew there would be a number of people driving. read more

Came to this studio for the Facebook fit event and I must say, I was absolutely impressed! Very modern design with and industrial feel to it all at the same time. If I ever need to host a party or event in Chicago, I'd definitely consider this place. read more

I am a Wedding Planner here in Chicago, and I had the pleasure of working with Izabella at Moonlight Studios back in April. She was always quick to respond to any questions that we had. Also, the venue itself is quite spectacular! You can dress the venue up with lighting and draping, or leave as-is. Truly a one-of-a-kind space! read more

Moonlight studios is a fantastic venue to hold company parties, social events, etc. Tucked away behind the Metra tracks, it has a great ambiance. The staff is very courteous and timely. Recommend read more

We held our wedding at Moonlight Studios on July 28, 2018. We were looking for a venue that wasn't your traditional ballroom wedding and fell in love with Moonlight after one visit. Izabela, the lovely woman that manages Moonlight, was an absolute joy to work with:) We got so many compliments on the space and have absolutely no regrets! Highly recommend if you are looking for a fun, up-scale, industrial venue. read more

Cool venue with friendly staff and beautiful decor. I DJ'ed a wedding at Moonlight Studios and was impressed with the space. I did luck out with a great parking spot for the event, but with that said the parking situation could definitely be easier. read more

Twist Out Cancer held their annual Brushes with Cancer event here. The space and staff were above and beyond exceptional. Thank you for helping us to make a great night! read more

I love this place! I went last week for a networking event and just loved the way the place is set up and the beautiful chandeliers. It makes for a great raw space for a wedding that a bride can dress up any way she wants. The only problem is that it is VERY difficult to find. My GPS told me to park when I was somewhat close to it and then walk. It's located on a narrow street right by a dead end. There are a few parking spots right outside, but it looks like there is more street parking in the surrounding blocks. Don't let the outside scare you away though, it's a different world once you go inside. read more

This place is incredible. Industrial meets chic with concrete walls and floors, exposed brick and crystal chandeliers. My daughter's wedding reception was at Moonlight Studios this weekend and our guests were commenting all night how cool it was. There are multiple rooms to book so we booked the entire space and used one room for cocktail hour and a second to replicate Kilroy's on Kirkwood in Bloomington, IN., where the lucky couple met! The main space was set for a sit down dinner with multiple bars, dessert tables and coffee service. The possibilities are endless for decor and Vive Bridges, the Venue Director, was a dream to work with and so accommodating. If you are looking for a one of a kind venue for that special day, you have to view Moonlight Studios. read more

I love this place! We rented the galleries for our wedding ceremony & reception this past weekend and it went smoothly. Having moved to LA I had to send a lot of emails to Vive (the director) and she was always so quick and clear with responses. I was able to look at the spaces every chance I was in town which was a huge help. Mackenzie was taking over for Vive the day of the wedding and she made sure that everything went perfectly. They are professional and easy to work with. The spaces are absolutely gorgeous and we couldn't be happier with having gone with Moonlight Studios. It was perfect! read more

We loved Moonlight Studios as our wedding venue and so did our guests! It's so cool how it has separate areas. The guests loved the lofty rooms for cocktail hour and the main room has the most beautiful chandeliers. It was a blank canvas and looked amazing with flowers and candles. The bridal suite is an added bonus and really comfortable, and the upstairs is a perfect place for groomsmen to hang out. Vive was a pleasure to work with and made everything easy. She was quick to respond and accommodating to all of our requests. The only reason we are taking off one star is because we wish we had known about the deal with Sound Investments. You have to use them for lighting/sound and they are a bit pricey. However, you can use Binny's for alcohol and that makes up for it! read more

Awesome venue. We got married here a few weeks ago and couldn't have been happier. It's a stunning space and very versatile. Vive was helpful and responsive. I was a little bit concerned about them being a packaged deal with Sound Investments, but my worries proved to be totally unfounded - they were total pros as well. Just a great spot for a wedding or any other type of event, really. read more