The Grand Ballroom

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

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.

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.

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 Café’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.

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.

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.

NEGATIVE 3 STARS! This is the honest truth — DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE — YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED!
Here is why in all my Unilocaling 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!!!

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.

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 30^th 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 (119^th Loomis), Parkway Ballroom (45^th King Drive), The Allerton Hotel in Downtown Chicago (Tip Tap Top Room), Room 43 (Near 43^rd Lake Park, behind One Stop Foods), and The Marmon Grand (not that great of a space in terms of décor, but is in a good location and the owners are amazing!).
Sorry for the lengthy review… hope this helps someone.

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.

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.