The ambiance is always great!! Wanda is always an excellent server who is clean and very fast on her feet! The owner is polite and seeks to ensure that all visitors feel safe and wants them to enjoy the venue!! He never turns anyone away if requesting to greet him for a brief introduction when I'm there. I've produced events here and exposed inner city youth to this luxury experience that they may have never had if my team and I hadn't reached out. I expect my guests and business clients will continue to take interest in renting the Grand Ballroom Chicago as executed in the past few years. The list of satisfactory referrals is growing!! #1stladyrebasoul read more

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We've been hosting monthly events here for the past two years for a large crowd. I'm not sure when the new owner/management took over, but he's always been accommodating. It's a large beautiful (I would like to say historic) venue that has a large dance floor, plenty of seating, huge bar, stage where Live Music or DJ can perform, private dressing room with a small bathroom, and a full-size commercial kitchen to rent if you want to provide food or bring in a caterer. There is a parking lot in the back, as well as across the street, and street parking. The owner has security patrolling the parking lots the entire night. Our guests have never had a problem. They only provide rental space, bartenders, and a few servers/waitresses, you have to provide/hire your own vendors (caterers, DJ, decorations, etc.). In being an Event Planner for the past 30+ years from Corporate to Community events, as with all Service-based businesses, you're going to always have a rotating door when it comes to customer service. It's part of the game. It's hard to find good help these days. My personal experience, as well as my experience in attending other events hosted there, has always been great. I know other event promoters who have also been hosting their events here for awhile, so if it was that bad, we wouldn't still be here. The owner does an excellent job in doing his best to stay on top of it. So when you read other poor reviews, create your own opinion based on your own experience like we did. Otherwise you just might miss out on a GREAT experience! read more

It's nice venue for stepping and having a concert. Parking is iffy and they have a lot which does not offer many spaces. It's a walk to get into the ballroom front the lot. The neighborhoods changing and it seems the University community is taking over. This old gem will soon be gone or fixed up. Go to the venues take pictures while you can. read more

I have NEVER written a review on a product or service, but after dealing with this place, I wanted to take the time out to let people know about this place and its foolery...I'll be Objectively speaking, The Grand Ballroom is hands down, one of the most beautiful, affordable, venues in the city of Chicago. The place is well kept (interior), and does provide catering service. The outside is another story and should be taken into consideration, especially if you plan to host an upscale event. Although I did not host my party here, I did use their caterer and he was pretty good....read on, however! I scoped out the place back in June in search for a venue to host my 30th birthday celebration. The theme was roaring twenties, so being that the ballroom was so well kept and built in the 20's, it was a for sure go. I signed the contract and made arrangements through the ballrooms caterer to serve the food at my party, so in my mind, everything was all set. 2 weeks before my event, the Ballroom called me to settle the final balance and we confirmed the date, once again. But then, something happened. I received a call 1 week prior to my event (merely a fake effort to try to get me to confirm the wrong date), stating that it was just a courtesy call to confirm my party date. But I noticed that an incorrect date was echoed back. So I informed the secretary that the party was scheduled for the date prior (she knew this already, however). She then proceeded to say she needed to check my contract, because the event was booked for another party for that day. So she checked and my contract was for that date I specified. I was then told that an 800 person party had booked for the same day as me, and that I would have to change my date. I refused of course! The venue was not double booked. it was just more profitable for them to host the other party, because mines was for 50 people and the other party was for 800 people. Perhaps and oversight... or not! So even though it was a week before my event, I agreed to try to find another venue, and the ballroom did help me find a place...a comparable one. so I enjoyed my party, nonetheless. The owner sent payment to the other venue and was supposed to refund me the difference. This place is about $400 per hour with a 5 hour minimum. The other place was $400 cheaper. My party was on 8/2 and it is now 9/5, and I have not received my refund. The owner also offered me a voucher for a future event, that I have not yet received either. I have been sending communications back and forth and have been ensured that the balance would be refunded for over a month, and still nothing. Small claims court is my next stop. So all in all, yes, the venue is very pretty, but if your party is not huge, you might want to take note of the above, because this could happen to you. Plus the outside of the place is suspect, meaning anything could happen. Good luck with your search, but you might want to skip over this one....the people that run this place are so unprofessional and full of chewed up grass (if you know what I mean!). Comparable Alternatives: The Legacy Luxury Event Venue (119th Loomis), Parkway Ballroom (45th King Drive), The Allerton Hotel in Downtown Chicago (Tip Tap Top Room), Room 43 (Near 43rd Lake Park, behind One Stop Foods), and The Marmon Grand (not that great of a space in terms of decor, but is in a good location and the owners are amazing!). Sorry for the lengthy review...hope this helps someone. read more

The inside of the ballroom is really pretty. They have seating for over 400. They offer in house catering but give you an option to pay a fee and bring in your own catering. However had it been in another neighborhood, it would have been a no brainer. Outside just is not appealing, in my opinion, I don't like it. They assured me that the neighborhood is safe, however I don't think my concern is a safety issue. It's more of a... I just don't like it. Which sucks because the inside is really nice. They can offer some creative options in regards of ceremony and reception in the same areas. Guest don't have to sit at the tables for the ceremony, they can be seated on the dance floor. Which by the way is huge. The best part is that stage in the middle of the dance floor. I mean who wouldn't want to married on that stage, with all of the lights. If only I could get over outside... This is in the maybe pile...but the search continues. read more

I went here on Friday for my hair stylist's wig launch. Not only was the inside spacious and clean, but it also had a fully stocked bar. There was enough for 4 additional vendors to have booths set up. The drinks were delicious. At first I was concerned if it was a cash only bar, but they accepted cards. That fact made me so happy. There was a kitchen in the back and the dance floor is large enough for the entire place to be able to cut a rug. There was also a stage where the DJ was. Parking was a stretch. If you aren't the first to arrive, you might have to park in the parking lot on the side by the corner. It's not a far walk from the venue though. Another thing I liked was the place stayed open for the event until 11. I know that's still early for some places, but as beautiful as this place is..I didn't expect that. I've never been here, but if I had to have an event, I would def choose this place. read more

This is a beautiful venue. Brings to life what some some may only have the opportunity to read about. Live music very third Sunday. They serve dinner-baked chicken, fish, greens, mac and cheese, cornbread and salad. Cherry cobbler was included for desert. read more

NEGATIVE 3 STARS!! This is the honest truth -- DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE -- YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED! Here is why in all my yelping experience I have never been so disappointed in a venue -- Saturday, June 21, 2014 - the day of my little sisters wedding. She and hubby were married at St, Sabina by Father Mike -- it was beautiful -- then to the party - the reception - at the Grand Ballroom - she feel in love with the interior of the space and loved the old-time elegance of the it -- but if the girl only had a real notion they were going to be on manure she would have left them alone. We get to the Ballroom at: 5:00 -- there was supposed to be appetizers on each table for her 200+ guests (yes she had it outside catered) -- there was no appetizers.. 5:35 -- I'm being asked to get drinks for people as they wait -- this is strange as this event was supposed to be an open bar affair 5:45 -- Get drink for a cousin at bar -- return to get the bride's cocktail and was flat out told no -- I already was served a drink for free and now I have to pay --- WTF!!!! My parents spent damn near $5000 for an open bar -- are you kidding me -- Had my mother get on the mic to tell people not to buy drinks -- they were paid for already. 6:00 -- the bar is shut down as dinner is supposed to be served promptly at 6pm - family style - she put loads of planning on picking people that would not only enjoy each others company, but also have the same food choices.) 6:30 -- still no food, still no appetizers, still no water on tables. 7:00 -- STILL no food -- bridal party table has food (but we are not eating because no one else has food) and I am now, as the matron of honor, passing food to grandparents, the elderly, and friends in napkins cause they still haven't been served. 7:15 -- I see a lady with a tower of plates being pushed around but not being served -- the lady is just walking in circles. -- 7:20 -- I see my father by the kitchen -- so I walk back there to see what the commotion is all about -- I see my sister in her wedding party dress in tears asking what is going on -- why isn't her catered food not being served -- why are they just now starting to plate things up -- when in fact is was supposed to be family style and why is there only one person as a server and one person as the person to plate -- 7:25 -- I try to relax my sister and have her go back to enjoy her day -- 7:30 -- STILL NO FOOD! 7:35 -- I return to the kitchen to find my friend, stylist, cousins, and her bridal party plating food! -- Try to reorganize them as to were friends and cousins are plating and bridal party begins to serve. 8:00 all tables have food -- thanks to the bridal and family!!! These people told her that they were doing her a favor to honor her contract as the business switched hands, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!! She paid her money in full for this venue and they every which way played her; from serving her food to serving her drinks -- they never apologized for their screw up. This place does raggedy business -- They are ghetto! They are unprofessional! They do not deserve to have a business dealing with people outside of the hood Mark my words this place will be totally run down in the next few months to a year as anyone with some sense will not patronize for this type of service -- only the hood, ghetto, and non-class people will find that this place suits them. Totally un-happy!!!! read more

This place was HORRIBLE! I had my wedding reception here and OMG...I'M STILL HAVING NIGHTMARES ABOUT MY WEDDING!!!!!!!!! Every time I think about my experience here, I cry... So Mike Smith and Kai Alexander sold me all these dreams about how they can offer the stars for my wedding...an open bar...wait staff...bust boys...SIMPLE WEDDING STUFF! I paid for all these things mind you and it was a complete disaster. BAR: We paid over 5K on open bar for 200 people for 5 hrs. EVERYONE was SOBER! They told me with their own mouths that they bought 12 bottles of liquor with my 5K. WHO DOES THAT! They stole my money! I, the BRIDE, went to the bar to get a drink and they all but told me NO! They said oh, well we running out of liquor (I bet with only 12 F*CKING bottles!!). Soon as we (my husband and I) got there, they said they were running out of liquor. My diabetic auntie was told that she couldn't get some ORANGE JUICE and they she had to pay for it. AGAIN, I paid for an open bar that included soft drinks, juice, water, premium liquor, and signature drinks. They denied people drinks, tried to charge my guests, and even put WATER in someone's cocktail! I also had an ice luge sculpture that served as a luge to take shots. The Grand Ballroom denied my guests from enjoying the shots from the luge as they told people that they couldn't use it! HOT MESS!!!!! We also had signature drinks. Went to the venue to plan and taste and all that...came up with 2 signature drinks that represented myself and my hubby...had drink menus set up/printed. When we got there and someone ordered the signature drink, they said..."we don't have that". WTF!!!! What was the purpose of us going through setting up the sig drinks if you are just going to ignore us and our requests. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOOD/SERVICE: We paid for a wait staff to serve our delish Jamaican food. When my husband and I arrived, the food also arrived...nice and hot! It took an additional 2 hours before food was brought out to my guests! Dinner was to be served family style. I was told that there were enough bowls, plates, serving dishes to accomplish family style serve. The day of, when the food arrived, they now didn't have enough serving dishes! WTF! The wait staff was in the back, eating my food, taking plates home. I had people that was diabetic that needed to eat! The apps that I bought never made it to the guests! They sat back there and ate them! Then when I got so fed up, I went back to the kitchen and asked if they needed help because nothing was coming out. They told me yes and so I proceeded to wash my hand and plate my guests' food in my WEDDING DRESS!!!!!!! Again, WTF!!!! Once my husband, maids, and dad saw that I was plating food, we had my family and wedding party in their dresses and tuxs SERVING FOOD!!! I cried.... MUSIC: I told the venue provided DJ (that I paid for) not to play certain music and he played it anyway. When it was time for my father daughter dance, he played some freaky song that I did not give him to play! Again, I was pissed. There was dead air for a while...my mom finally put on her CELL PHONE and we had better music than the DJ provided! SERICE: The service was horrible! I MEAN HORRIBLE!!!! They were rude to my guests, they were rude to me and my husband, when we came back to see how they would fix this, they pretty much laughed in our faces and told us to F*CK OFF! These people have NO business experience and needs to get out of customer service because they offer none! I still cry and have anxiety over weddings to this day! I'm so frustrated with these people that made one of the most important days of my life into a nightmare! The next day I heard that the people waited over 5 hrs to eat the food that they paid for. I don't use the word "hate" much because it's a horrible word but I HATE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please go somewhere else. These people will take your money, promise you everything, and deliver NOTHING. They are not professional and are snakes. We have currently sought legal remediation. read more

This place is a complete fraud. Anyone with an ounce of sense would not even begin to do business here. The manager's that run this place are con artist and are completely unprofessional and uneducated. I wouldn't let the devil do business with these guy's because he will be disappointed as well. I wish I was not gainfully employed because I promise I would spend every second of my day to ensure they never make another dollar in this establishment expecially with these uncouth managers. My new wife and I spent 9k at this place and got 5 dollar service. The first manager took 4k of my money and disappeared according to the new managers but they are still in constant contact with this guy. Sounds like they are in on it because if my business partner stole clients money he would be incarcerated, but I'll let the state's attorney Anita Alvarez deal with that issue. Furthermore I spent 5k on a premium open bar for 5 hours that lasted for only 90 minutes and the neanderthal told me that all my liquor was gone since I only paid for 12 bottles. This is complete bs I can go to Kenwood liquor and get 12 fifths for less than 500 let alone 5k. I paid for outside catering to be served by grand ballroom employees but instead the guests of my 200+ reception went into their kitchen and served food in their dresses and tuxedos. I paid for signature drinks I never received and I, the groom, was told I couldn't get a drink at my own bar. I purchased an ice luge to be used at the bar but the moronic bartenders who couldn't even figure out the ingredients in a rum and coke wouldn't let anyone use the luge until I complained. The Dj that was provided by the grand ballroom sucked for lack of better words. I would have been better off playing pandora with all of the dead air I heard. The waitstaff ate my food in the kitchen and took stuff home without any permission. My wife and I cut our wedding cake out to 10 guest before any staff came to help but not without having an attitude. All of the serving staff there was rude and dingy looking. One lady has a mustache thicker than mine. I can continue on with all of the fuck ups caused by Mike Smith and Kai Alexander but I am getting more angry as I type. To make the situation worse they agreed to pay 50% back to me but after a month of ducking and dodging like a bunch of pre pubescent bitches when I finally meet up with them they pretty much laughed and said I'm asking for too much. They got me fucked up and now they should ask my attorney if that's too much. This is exactly what I get for trying to stick with black owned business. Some of us are great business people but these Djangos give black business owners a bad name. This would have never happened if I went to château busche on cicero. The grand ballroom sold my wife and I a dream and instead got a nightmare! DO NOT DO ANY BUSINESS HERE YOU WILL BE SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED MARK MY WORDS. THIS PLACE WILL BE CLOSED BY CHRISTMAS. my only regret besides having my wedding reception here is having to rate this shithole one star in order to post my disgust. read more

If there was an option for no stars, I would choose that. Hall was dirty! Laking on decorations. Glassware was wiped down with same napkin all around. Hall was cold, heater was never turned on (late October). Silverware was dropped as it was being served, picked it up and continued with the same dirty silverware. Employees/ security/ bartenders very unprofessional. Had their own party drinking, everybody (8 employees ) drinking at the bar. Consuming the alcohol that the customer purchased for his guests. Very unprofessional, unsanitary, and unorganized. read more

The Grand Ballroom - Silverware dirty! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wanted to follow up on my previous review... I am so appreciative of how much Mike and his staff went out of his way in DONATING their space to us for The Living Room Cafe's Community Thanksgiving Meal. Never would I have imagined that we would get the opportunity to host the event in majestic space of the Ballroom. And Mike is offering the space to us again for our holiday party. What did I do right to get such a gift!? Everything from using the kitchen days in advance, storage, the stage for our DJ, staffing the coat check, providing security, prepping and cleaning the space and clean up where all provided. We typically see many of the same faces in the neighborhood at this event, but I could see that this was a rare treat to be in the Ballroom this year. And we were able to have 2 buffet lines for the first time! I never would have imagined that possible for this event. Thank you Mike and crew. I am touched. read more

Huge ballroom to step at. Music is nice. I can't speak for dealings with management. I'd go back.

Initially when my sister told me she was having her wedding at the Grand Ballroom, I looked it up and read the reviews and expected the worse. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. The facility itself is very nice and pleasant, the neighborhood isn't what you would expect for a ballroom but the price justifies the location. As with any event, things weren't perfect but the thing that most impressed me was the accommodating staff. When the bride complained about being too hot in her private room, the manager on staff sent someone to buy a fan. When the independent caterer forgot the beverages the Grand Ballroom manager sent someone out to buy drinks for the guest. The one thing my sister did complain about was that the private bathroom wasn't as clean as she'd liked. But overall I think The Grand Ballroom is a good value considering its cost and location, and whatever else it did lack, it made up in with hospitality and its down-to-earth staff. The Grand Ballroom is very accommodating for intimate laid back crowds. read more

BADDDD service my grandfather had his wedding here it was nice but tbe service was bad we wait ed 5 hours for are food to top it off when we finally got the food it was horrible the chicken was bad and the people that work there were sooo rude other than that the place is nice. read more

I had the pleasure of sponsoring a very important luncheon at the Grand Ballroom on March 1, 2014. It was phenomenal . The architectural layout was amazingly obliging. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The ambiance was picture perfect. . Management was accommodating and receptive to all my needs. Such a transformation for the community. If your looking to book any events look NO further, give Mike Smith, Kai Alexander a call. read more

The Grand Ballroom is truly a hidden gem. The venue is gorgeous and the team was very willing to allow us the flexibility in terms of decorations and room layout. Mark and Pam were both extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. They ensured that our wedding reception exceeded our expectations. The catering menu isn't the most extensive, but it's definitely quality. The catering also does not allow guests to select fish, beef or chicken, everyone must get the same dish. There are two parking lots available for guests, but there's also plenty of free street parking which is becoming a rarity in the city. We would definitely recommend the venue to others. read more