We had a strategy off-site meeting at Catalyst Ranch last week. We enjoyed the experience and had a very good meeting. The rooms and facility have a fun, quirky atmosphere well suited for creative group sharing and discussion. The support from the staff was very professional and included a fun ice breaker exercise a staff member facilitated. Everything including lunch was delivered as promised and on schedule. Two small disappointments that keep this to a four star rather than five star review: (i) the computer projector in our room was a seemingly 10 year old model with only 640p resolution and did not have a Mac connector readily available (luckily one of our team members brought an adapter). Great new projectors can be had for about $1k, and so this would be a sensible investment for a meeting company. (ii) the snack and coffee service were underwhelming as we just got a basket with some unhealthy packaged snacks. I would recommend offering bettering snacks as part of the deal or offering better snacks and coffee service as a premium option. Overall I would still recommend Catalyst Ranch as a great place to hold a meeting and hope they address my issues to make it even better :) read more

This place is different. All these rave reviews are apparently by people who have never been to a real wedding reception. The decor reminds me of refugees from a bad resale shop. The bright primary colors would not be out of place in a nursery school. While interesting, decor doesn't make a venue. The rooms are small, seating and tables inadequate, air conditioning also inadequate and acoustics are terrible. While the food and service were excellent, that isn't enough to make me say that I had a wonderful experience. The wedding I attended was one I looked forward to, so I enjoyed seeing all friends and relatives but couldn't talk to them as the band, in a small room, was deafening. I would not recommend this to anyone for a wedding venue....or anything else larger than 40 people. read more

We had a fundraiser at Catalyst Ranch on 3/14/09. The fundraiser was for Lydia Home Association (Group Home) in Chicago. The goal was to raise $24,000 to send 40 children from Lydia to camp this summer. The event was a huge success! Feedback was that the location was very eclectic and people appreciated a chairity event that was hip and low-key (AKA jeans was the recommended dress). Catalyst Ranch staff was amazing and very easy to work with. They assisted us with every detail of the event as far as catering, silent auction, etc. Big thumbs up for Catalyst Ranch!!!! read more

My husband & I just had our wedding at the Catalyst Ranch on New Year's Eve 2010. Words can not express just how much I'd like to say about this amazing place!!!! First of all, with it being New Year's Eve and my husband and I being the people that we are, we did NOT want anything even remotely resembling a traditional cookie cutter wedding. When we began looking for venues for out event, I literally typed the words 'funky wedding reception venues in Chicago' into Google and the Catalyst Ranch is what came up first. We looked at the website and photos online and it was a done deal from there! We immediately booked a viewing and decided that the 4th floor consisting of the Jitterbug, Mambo, & Foxtrot rooms were the place for us to have our wedding and reception. All we had to do was wait for the day to arrive!! Every single person who attended our wedding was dazzled and amazed by just how vibrant, funky, & FUN the Catalyst Ranch was! The vibrancy of the colors, the eclectic mismatched furniture and decor was the absolute PERFECT backdrop for an unforgettable evening! Every single square inch of the Ranch is jam packed with visual interest with such attention to detail! I'm seriously unable to think of anything that it lacked in any way- to me it's perfection!! Lauren and everyone who was there to take care of our event are truly amazing! They're professional, friendly, and just fun!! I was so relaxed and at ease because I knew that they were there and that everything was taken care of. The worst part of our day was when it ended- I just wanted it to last forever! If you're looking for an unforgettable venue for an event, I'd look no further than the Catalyst Ranch! (feel free to invite me to it so I can get back there too! :p ) read more

Catalyst Ranch may have possibly destroyed all future events I attend. This place is AMAZING!.. Love the kitchy retro vibe all the fun rooms, props and eye candy galore!.. This place screams fun and possibly "Hey You Guyyyysss!" book your next and every event here if you want it to be a guaranteed success! read more

The whole team at Catalyst Ranch made for a stress-free wedding planning process. The decorations speak for themselves and make a bride not have to decorate all that much besides flowers. All of our guests were pleasantly surprised by how unique our wedding was. Everything especially let loose with the built-in photobooth where they could really show their true colors with the wigs, hats, and other costumes. I would recommend this place for couples who want a unique experience that reflects their quirky personalities. This place is also perfect for smaller weddings since the Polka room fits around 115 people for dinner comfortably. The cozy environment allows guests to really mix and mingle rather than segregate like they do sometimes in big ballroom weddings. Thank you all for making this experience perfect for us. read more

Very unique and memorable space. I had the privilege of seeing the entire place and its a great place to host any event or meeting (nothing too large though unless you wanna get the whole place). Keep this place in mind when your boss asks you to help think of a place that's a little different for the next office event. Parking may be a pain in the butt though but when is it not? read more

Two very dear close friends of mine married each other here in late June. It was awesome because: 1) it is fun to get dressed up and drunk with your college buddies 2) the room was colorful and totally un-stuffy 3) chocolate fondue fountain thing! omg the pineapple was best. they also had little mini rice krispie treats 4) funny wigs and crazy hats, hidden in the corner, perfect for the taking once you have reached the tipping point with the imbibing 5) the hilariously and impeccably choreographed dance the newlyweds performed, to David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" the moral of the story is: have your friends have their next wedding here, then choreograph a dance to your favorite David Bowie song, and also wear one of the funny wigs. read more

I attended a wedding here on Saturday and it was the coolest space I have ever been to for a wedding. Very chic and brightly colored, decorated with lots of old retro furniture and funky decorations. The space was perfect for this intimate affair. I highly recommend this space for a funky birthday party or unique wedding spot. read more

This place is a fantastic venue. I was recently here for a ideation workshop and loved it. Highly recommend!

I had my wedding reception at Catalyst a little over 2 months ago and I still can't stop swooning over it. Yes...this is a space for non-traditional brides-grooms and brides-brides and grooms-grooms. If you're offbeat, then you need an offbeat space and I'm not sure if there is anything in the midwest that would rival this little gem. I want to adopt Paulette! She was the best help ever. This was the first vendor we booked and Paulette was so sweet to guide us in our wedding planning. We booked our wedding photographer and my dress vendor based on her recommendations and I was extremely happy with them as well. I love you Catalyst Ranch! *sigh* read more

I attended a staff retreat at this venue and it was super cool! Eclectic, kitschy, unique, colorful decorations and furniture abound. The casual seating groupings in the meeting rooms make it way more comfy and relaxed than a typical meeting space. The catering was amazing - unique menus and really good for food made in bulk and kept warm until lunch. They keep you supplied with all the snacks, drinks, office supplies and creative tools you need to have a productive meeting. Plus, the staff was really friendly and helpful! I'd highly recommend it! read more

Over several years I've been to a few events at the Catalyst Ranch. They were all very different functions, and what they had in common was that they were all great fun, and they all came off without a hitch. Therefore, when I became the chair of the benefit committee (as a Board member of a Not-For-Profit), I suggested having our annual benefit at the Catalyst Ranch. The evening was an absolute blast! More importantly the entire Board was extremely happy with the choice of venue, and, based on the success of the event, it's obvious that our guests were equally happy. The folks at "The Ranch" are wonderful; from the owner Eva, trough every single one of the "Ranch Hands". I can not endorse this place highly enough! read more

I came here recently for a strategic workshop for work and I thought the space was awesome! Unlike a lot of spaces I've been in for offsite meetings, this one has a lot of personality and a great casual vibe that was perfect for our session. I think the vibe definitely put everyone at ease and made people more comfortable than we would have been in a sterile conference room. I especially love that they have fun things around the room to help break up the day, i.e. playdough and pipe cleaners on the table, a box of wigs and hats, etc. The staff also did a great job taking care of us. We were very well fed and they did a nice job of circulating to collect dirty dishes and cups, make sure we had everything we needed, etc. If a colleague was looking for some place to have an offsite meeting I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place. read more

I recently had my wedding at Catalyst Ranch and cannot rave enough about how fabulous the space is and how helpful, efficient, and fun the staff was! We loved the campy, retro vibe of the Polka Room, which fit perfectly with our vision of a memorable, exciting, fun wedding reception. Everybody that we worked with from the event coordinator, to the assistants, to the security guard were truly kind and excited about making our evening the best it could be. We highly recommend this venue for any event that you might plan. The location is convenient, the space is awesome, and the staff is truly vested in helping you and your guests have the best possible time. We're still getting rave reviews from all of our guests!! read more

I attended a work conference here and it was the perfect venue for it! I wasn't stuck in another flourescent-lit conference room staring at power points. Instead we were all sitting around tables with things to keep our hands busy in the middle of each table (instead of checking our blackberries) including fuzzy felt and play-doh. It fit our group very comfortably (almost 100 people) without feeling overcrowded. And the food they had was amazing! I worked with them to host a company event after attending this conference, and the customer service and attention to detail and serve all of our needs and wants could not have been more pronounced. Everything from the decor, set-up, catering, and friendly staff, is a strong five-stared review in my book. read more

Just had a work PD there and cannot say enough good things about the place. The staff was warm, friendly, and on top of their game. Food spread was amazing, room layout/set up was cute and appropriate. I would definitely recommend this place for any work function. I wish I could individually list the staff because they were all on point. Everyone with my establishment was impressed and will hopefully be reviewing as well! Way to go Catalyst Ranch...hopefully I'll be there again. read more

Who would have thought that once you get off the elevator at the Catalyst Ranch that you were going to step back into this eclectic, magical place. The vintage theme is awesome! The staff is just fantastic. Honestly I would recommend all events to be held there because its just FUN. You cant help but walk in and be like this is F'ing awesome. The bathroom stalls are the best they have little magnet words and you can make up sentences while you do your thang. I cant wait to find something to hold an event there because this place is truly the most unique place I have been to in a while. Especially in the Chi! read more

Was here this past week for a fundraising event....very cool. As soon as you get off the elevator you are bombarded with color and so many things to look at! It's a neat place b/c each room is a different theme. I forgot which room we were in, but it was so unique. I walked around and glanced at the other rooms and they were just amazing. I don't really even know how to explain them...you just have to go for yourself! This place is just so different that it would be beneficial to host at least one event here in your lifetime! read more

Interesting decor, kind staff, and reliable wifi. Thumbs up for the lower and smaller-sized chairs. Not every American is huge.

I attended the Chicago Twestival at Catalyst. The building lobby is nice, but very nondescript. I took the elevator up to the 3rd floor, the doors opened, and I was greeted by a bright orange wall. I was totally shocked by the space. It was vibrant, creative, and eclectic. It was a great space and would add flair and uniqueness to any event. read more

I had no idea this place existed in the West Loop but its actually huge inside. The decor is all over the place, so it's actually a very good conversation starter. The rooms are expansive, colorfully painted, and have interesting/strange objects hanging everywhere. Several very cool seating sections too with floor pillows, different types of furniture, etc. it would be good for a creative event. read more

We held our wedding at Catalyst Ranch on July 17th. I knew right away when I went to visit the space that I had to have my wedding here in the Jitterbug room! Lauren was great to work with and her and the ranchers did an awesome job setting up and coordinating everything so the evening went on without a hitch. Everyone was commenting on how great the space was and how you couldn't be unhappy if you tried in a space like it. We had such an awesome time and a lot of that had to do with having our wedding at such a cool place. Thank you Catalyst Ranch for providing such a cool alternative to traditional banquet halls so that we could have a wedding we will remember forever! read more

Totally adore this place! We held an off site meeting here, and I was enthralled with the whimsical decor. The colorful, comfortable set-up provided plenty of inspiration to help us stay engaged and creative during a day-long strategy meeting. The staff was also really nice and very helpful. I highly recommend it! read more

We truly cannot thank you and the other Ranch Hands enough for making our recent educational seminar possible. From first contact, they were beyond accommodating with planning set up, AV, and last minute changes. They made the event run so much more smoothly than we could have imagined. Our colleagues and attendees were so impressed with the space and had a great time. The setting is fun and whimsical, though if you're not prepared it could be sensory overload for some. It's all part of the laid-back vibe, and you can count on them to make your event a success. read more

Catalyst Ranch is not a typical business, they're more like a fun-ness. They are literally a party in a flat. When I walked through the foyer to go up the elevator and join the Tweet-up that was in progress at Catalyst Ranch, I was thoroughly sketched out. Is this Tweet-up in someone's apt? Going up the elevator I imagined a weird living room, with traces of nag-champa laced through old corduroy couches. You can imagine how wonderfully surprised I was when I walked off the elevator and felt the sunshine vibe of Catalyst Ranch warming my social networking skills. I wouldn't had even needed to make conversation if I hadn't wanted to because the room is a conversation starter in itself. It also lent itself perfectly to hanging out in a small group and then migrating, hanging out in another small group. Each mini-meet up area had a different chill feel to it, some straight backed chairs, some cushy chairs -- everything colorful and comfy. Plus the staff was super helpful and honestly looked like they enjoyed their job -- is this trader joes or an event planning company? Regardless, props to the bright smiles and sunny decor. If I lived in Chi town, it would be my go to spot to plan an event. read more

I recently had my daughter's Baby Shower at Catalyst Ranch and it was more than wonderful, the place is so colorful and magical. Tatiana was the service manager who was our contact person. She is very professional, kind, and helpful. We had a problem that had nothing to do with Catalyst Ranch and she was very helpful with us solving that problem. My daughter's guest were very impressed with the place and we got a lot of positive feedback about the venue. The shower was on a Saturday and (2) people working that day were Allen and AJ they were the kindest and most helpful young men I have encountered in a long time. We had the most wonderful experience at Catalyst Ranch. Thank You read more

Our company, On The Spot Photo Magnets (OnTheSpotPhotoMagnets.com) provides Instant Photo Magnets Keepsakes for ALL Events and we were honored to preform our service at this MAGICAL & UNIQUE venue! The event was GREAT! From planing to operation, and everything just was smooth and very easy to work with. Thank you Tehila Newman and the entire staff for having us and looking forward to working with you again! :) read more

I recently had my wedding reception at Catalyst Ranch and it was amazing! I've gotten so many compliments on how fun the reception was and that is was the best wedding people have attended. Lauren and her staff did an amazing job and were very easy to work with - accommodating, flexible, and willing to answer my questions. I would recommend Catalyst Ranch for weddings, events, anything where people want to do something creative, different, and fun!h read more

What an awesomely beautiful and creative space! I came here for an offsite brainstorming session with a small team and it was the perfect location and just the right amount of space. It really is like an adult playground to get the creative juices flowing. Staff was also nice and helpful, and made sure everything was taken care of before we arrived. I will be returning here for any small or large group gathering in the near future. read more

I was looking for an event space to celebrate my daughter's Bat Mitzvah and Catalyst Ranch was perfect! It is bright and colorful and happy and just gives off a wonderful vibe. It is unconventional and so different from any other venue we looked at.the staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful. They have relationships with all the vendors that you need which makes planning a party there very easy and they are all a pleasure to work with as well. It is such an interesting space with so many things to look at and a great color palate, you don't really need to decorate at all. We used the Polka and adjacent Tango rooms which worked out great for having quieter areas for talking, enough space for eating and plenty of room for dancing. We loved our party there and it worked out perfectly It's an original! read more

We cannot praise the Catalyst Ranch too highly! From the eclectic, colorful decor, to the enthusiastic, accommodating staff, this is the place to host your event. We had our wedding reception here with many moving parts, and they handled it with grace and style. All of our guests raved about the venue; we are so glad we chose this fantastic space! read more

I used this place for a meeting over the Memorial Day weekend in 2012. The staff was extremely accommodating and the atmosphere was electric! I love the casual environment. It made for an awesome meeting. The owner of our company is STILL talking about this venue. PLEASE, PLEASE consider the Canyon Ranch for your events. You won't be sorry! read more

I went to the Yelp party here this past Satuarday night and it was such a great time. Catalyst Ranch has such a fun and crazy vintage atmosphere. The drinks were great, music was awesome, loved the face painter Trish, and Paulette who works there was amazing. By far the best time I've had in a long time! Can't wait to go back! Everyone should have an event there! Loved it, loved it, loved it! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Now that I have gotten that out of the way let me get to my review. My partner and me met with Loren last December while looking for a venue for our wedding. We had been looking at venue and hadn't found anything that fit our personalities. The second we arrived we fell in love. We are both non traditional and wanted to have a day of the dead themed wedding which fit perfectly with the decor of the Catalyst. Loren was amazing. She booked us for the day we wanted, answered all of our questions and recommended fantastic caterers. On the night of our wedding everything was perfect. Loren even scrambled around to assist our caterers in fixing our cupcakes that had been damaged during transport. She was so great in fact that we wished that she could have just been a guest at our wedding! Throughout the evening our guest could not stop talking about how wonderful and unique the venue was. Everyone had such a great time and at the end of the night the staff at the Ranch were super helpful. The Catalyst Ranch truly is a magical place. It made our wedding perfect in so many ways. If you are considering booking it for any event, DO IT. It will be one of the best decisions you ever make. read more