My husband & I held our wedding at Gallery 1028 in September. It was absolutely amazing. Our guests were a little skeptical at first (especially our mothers!) but people loved it. We had 300 guests who all mingled in one room for cocktails as well as post-dinner dancing and dined in the main room for a dinner by Calihan Catering (only option of caterer). There was tons of parking for guests that chose to drive, the loading dock was great for people that wanted to hang outside. The only downfalls were needing portable toilets (which were really nice) in addition to their 3 bathrooms and not being in an area where there are a lot of cabs. read more

Gallery 1028 - Dining Room Set for Wedding Reception - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had our wedding at Gallery 1028 on 12/13/14, and I'm thrilled to be writing this review only a couple days later. Gallery 1028 was the very first venue we looked at, and we knew it was exactly what we wanted. It is an open lofty warehouse space with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and old wood floors--it is such a gorgeous space. For our winter wedding, we brought in cafe lighting to be strung over the dance floor and then just TONS of candles. We wanted everything candlelit and warm and cozy. We brought in vintage furniture to create a little lounge area, and really....that's all we needed. The space itself really doesn't need much because it is already so impressive and unique. Everyone loved the food and raved about how attentive and friendly the staff was. We couldn't have had a better experience, and I never wanted the night to end. I should mention that we had about 130 people at our wedding, and there are only three bathrooms which means there was typically a line. I don't think this is a big deal since I wait in line for the bathroom at any busy bar or restaurant on the weekend, but worth a mention if you are going to have a much larger wedding. Todd went above and beyond--he offered speedy email replies, recommendations, guidance, reassurance, and even helped us create a seasonal signature cocktail. I loved that this venue was a little off the beaten path. We used luminaire bags to line the stairs and create a little path to the door so the entrance was easy to find. I disagree with people when they say it's hard to catch a cab in that area--it's easy to have someone call cabs ahead of time as the wedding nears the end, plus who doesn't use Uber or Lyft these days? I highly recommend Gallery 1028, and I hope some of my newly engaged friends hold their weddings there so I can go back soon! read more

Gallery 1028 - Wedding Ceremony at Gallery 1028 - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had the most spectacular experience at our February wedding at Gallery 1028. We knew we wanted a space that was unique and would create a warm and cozy dinner-party atmosphere for our winter event. We got everything we hoped for and so much more. We loved the opportunity to create exactly the mood we wanted through lighting (their existing lights turned way low and candles made for a beautiful amber glow - no need for additional lighting, as far as I was concerned), custom furniture (bar and lounge) and decor. Using a design company definitely makes coordinating all of these details a lot easier (call Revel!). Lee was an incredibly knowledgeable resource and a real pleasure to work with. She worked directly with our coordinator and other vendors to ensure that the entire thing went off without a hitch so we didn't have to worry about a thing. The serving staff was extremely professional and Garrison deserves an extra special thanks for being so incredibly attentive and helpful to us as the bride and groom. He provided the unexpectedly important service of making sure that we were sitting and eating at all the times we needed to be and as a result, we actually got to enjoy the fantastic meal that we'd spent so much time planning. (Thank you, Garrison!) The food from Calihan was delicious and we received so many compliments. The tireless work of the team made for a night that was exactly what we'd pictured, which is truly the highest compliment. This space is absolute magic. read more

For the capacity of people that they are able to pack-in (hundreds of people)- they need more than two bathrooms. Each bathroom has a single toilet. If your event has hundreds of people at this location, be ready to see lines to the bathroom greater than 15 people. Other than the lack of bathrooms, this event space is outstanding and recommended. read more

Best wedding venue every everyone should get married here best staff wedding planners best food best everything

Another raw, loft-like space available for private parties... It's got a bit of a "rough," urban, unfinished charm to it...nestled on Goose Island (oh, Hooker Street? indeed). Close to Kendall College. All wood floors... The up sides: -be as creative as you want, blank slate. -HUGE. Room to roam, dream and party! -Seemingly obscure location, but quite accessible. Parking easy, valet service recommended. -Decent acoustics. -Two permanent bar areas. -Open floor plan. -Speakeasy feel... The down sides: -Portable bathrooms, though the nice ones, are still portable. -Calihan Catering used exclusively. (pricey) -Lacking in natural light (raised first floor) Fabulous for launch parties, large weddings, art showings, etc. The possibilities are really endless, and the space lends itself to some very cool ideas. If you've got some creativity...BRING IT! read more

I did not want a hotel wedding. So after schlepping my mom to a bunch of unusual venues while exploring my options, we were ready to give up. After seeing Gallery 1028 my mom said "it doesn't make me want to throw up." Sold. We were married here in October 2010. I love Gallery 1028, and you should too. Here's why: Hip, urban, modern, romantic loft venue. A blank slate for you to work with. Beautiful high ceilings, brick walls, wood floors, candles along the walls, any decor you want (and pay for). Unlike the other lofts in the city, there's no El nearby to disturb you. Attentive, sweet, easy to work with staff. Thanks Katie Hall! Plenty of free parking for your guests. Close to downtown, but off the beaten path. I felt like I discovered a hidden gem. Calihan Catering, the exclusive caterers for this venue, is superb. Seriously, high-end, impressive presentation, excellent catering. I keep thinking about our deconstructed ceasar salad and apple cone with creme fraische and caviar appetizers. The only downside is that yes, you do have to rent EVERYTHING, from the tables to the forks to the coffeemakers. It's not impossible, but it does make for more work. Have your event here before it becomes too popular and they start raising the rates! read more

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I came here recently for a wedding reception and had a lovely time. It's essentially a warehouse space, so the entrance is literally a loading dock and the floors are old and wooden. The simplicity of the venue makes for a pretty classy vibe when you have nice decor. They had candles on a little ledge all around the dining area, which had a beautiful effect. Before the dinner, there was a cocktail hour. By the time all of the guests showed up, it was quite crowded! They brought out some passed appetizers that were literally bite-sized, which made them really easy to eat while standing. The appetizers and the dinner were both quite good, and I particularly loved the bite-sized grilled cheese sandwiches they brought out later on in the night! Really the only downside to this place is the bathroom situation. There are only 3 bathrooms (individual unisex rooms, not stalls in a larger bathroom) and it was not nearly enough! I missed the majority of the toasts while waiting in line for the bathroom. Boo! Aside from the bathroom situation, I think this is a lovely place for a reception and a nice change of pace from a typical banquet hall. read more

Big raw loft space in an industrial area just west of Halsted and south of the river at Division. I attended an event by Tullamore Dew (Irish whiskey) which was a lot of fun. The event was very professionally planned: a crew of valet parkers were out front, a check-in table & coat check area were set up just inside. An Irish rock band played in the huge main room (but little seating or table space was provided). Uniformed bartenders and servers, both at makeshift bars in various parts of the venue, and circulating with trays. In the back, in the smaller "VIP room" guarded by a bouncer, two boxers sparred in smoke provided by a smoke machine, below huge antique-looking boxing posters. I didn't see a line, but the bathrooms seemed a bit inadequate for such a large gathering. read more

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We recently got married at Gallery 1028 and Jeffery and Todd were incredible. They were incredibly professional and all the planning was seamless. For any requests, they were incredibly accommodating and we were so appreciative. Plus the venue photographs beautifully!! It is really an incredible space and rental experience read more

Gallery 1028 - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gorgeous event space! Real beam wood floors, exposed brick, large event space. The only thing that made me hesitate was the shape of the room...really long instead of wide. Also, the parking in that area is very random...all of it seems to be assigned to businesses but if you go to an evening weekend party, then what? Is it free reign of the parking? There wasn't a valet at this party so we just had to "wing it" and hope our car was there when we came out at the end. read more

Gallery 1028 - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We could not have asked for a better experience than at Gallery 1028 for our wedding last year (yes.. long overdue review!). Todd and Jeffrey were super responsive throughout the whole process and made everything really easy. The venue is exactly what we were looking for - customizable industrial warehouse/ loft type space and the original wood floors were amazing! The location is a little different but still close to downtown for our out of town guests, and it was also fun to show them a different side of Chicago. What really sealed the deal for us was the number of bathrooms at this place - there was never a line! read more

Super easy to locate - Cool layout I came here for a fashion show on 3/12 hosted by Crown Royal. I have seen the place in its raw form and the redesign for your event is super easy. I like that there is parking within walking distance. It's not huge but it's not THAT small either. I would like to go to another event here just to see how it's transformed. read more

This place looks unappealing from the outside, but is actually very nice and rustic-looking on the inside. We just visited 1028 for a wedding and the space seemed to work out nicely. They utilized three rooms for the wedding--a guest book area when you first walk in, an area for cocktail hour mingling, and a space where the ceremony/dinner/dancing took place. It was big and you can do a lot with it. read more

Gallery 1028 - The main room is very spacious. Also I LOVE a good exposed brick wall. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went to a wedding at this location and enjoyed the atmosphere of the venue. I't defiantly not your traditional banquet hall type of situation. Looks like it would be great for any type of gathering. read more

I cannot thank Todd and Jeffrey enough for such a magical wedding at Gallery 1028. The exposed brick, natural wood floors, and white accents of the event space were breathtaking! Working with Todd and Jeffrey was seamless, as they paid close attention to detail and were thorough and thoughtful in their explanations. Todd is one of the nicest people I have ever met and made it so easy for me to trust that my big day would be magical. Our wedding was breathtaking and we owe it to this wonderful event space and are grateful for such a great experience with Todd and Jeffrey:) read more

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*Note - I signed up for Yelp solely to write this review, as Gallery 1028 impressed me that much. How you ask? See below.... (Background - using the venue to host our client's fitness event here for approx 100 women) Customer Service - Nicole and especially Nash were there every step of the way to help make our event a success. As someone who executes small and large scale events nationwide anually, I feel so many venues do what they have to in order to get by, but rarely go the extra mile for their clients. That is certainly not the case at Gallery 1028. Here is a short list of the ways they helped us out.... -Allowed huge vinyl graphics on their walls -Allowed CHALK DRAWINGs on their brick -Let us hang ropes throughout the venue from their beams -Gave us a hose when needed to clean our 6' tractor trailer tires (crazy but true!) -Lent us a ladder -Opened earlier and stayed later than needed. We did pay extra for this, but the fact they were so flexible was so appreciated. -Nash brought in his own drill bits and drill to help mount a display rack we had -Just by being friendly. It's amazing how a genuine willingness to help can get you through hectic moments in an event. Gallery 1028 wasn't just our venue contact, they were true partners in this event. They seemed to care about it just as much as we did! Time after time, my colleagues and I looked at each other and kept saying, "If only all other places were like this." Gallery 1028 is not only a beautiful venue, but the food was great as well. All catering is done in-house by Calihan Catering. It's little wonder with the attentive service we received that the event was a (insert Borat voice) "Great success!" Moral of the review - book your event here now, you will be very happy you did!! :) THANK YOU NASH, NICOLE, ROBERT, LEE and TEAM! We are very grateful for all that you did for us! Love, Mosaic XM Team (Kaitlin, Bobby, Alex, Matt and Julie) www.mosaic.com read more

We had our wedding at Gallery 1028 in August 2014 and it was the PERFECT venue. Tons of natural light, spacious feel, and attentive and friendly staff. The planning process was SO fun and easy with Todd and Jeffery, and they made our big day feel so special and personal. Our guests raved about the venue! The food was incredible too (Calihan Catering at Gallery 1028) - our guests kept telling us it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding! For our other vendors (floral/event design, photographer, DJ, day-of coordinator, etc.), we used vendors from Gallery 1028's preferred vendor list, and they were awesome - worked great with Gallery 1028 and transformed the space into the perfect wedding venue. I would highly recommend Gallery 1028 for a wedding in Chicago! read more

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I just love this place! We chose to have our wedding reception at Gallery 1028 for their rustic feel and raw space. When you walk in the space it may seem a little overwhelmingly bare, but with flowers, decor and lighting it really comes to life and you have endless possibilities. The group at Calihan catering (next door) could not be more helpful or talented! Their food and drinks are highlights of our wedding and the staff was so friendly! From the beginning, working with Lee and Todd at Calihan, to the actual wait staff and bartenders the night of - you cannot ask for a better experience. We are so, so happy we celebrated our wedding here and so thankful they provided a completely stress free experience for us! read more

We had our wedding reception at Gallery 1028 in June. We could not have asked for a better venue for our special day! From the first day we went to see it, we knew it was going to be perfect and exactly what we wanted! The brick walls and wood floors was exactly what I had envisioned to be 'different and unique' but still located in Chicago! We received so many compliments on the venue from our guests! Working with Kayla was an absolute joy and she was there to answer any questions we had! I would HIGHLY recommend Gallery 1028 to anyone in the future! read more

We got married at Gallery 1028 in August 2014 and couldn't have been happier about our choice from start to finish. We directly worked with Todd, and he went above and beyond to make sure the whole experience was perfect for us. From the food tasting...to the day of the wedding...and all of my millions of questions in between, Todd was available and always eager to make the process fun and run smoothly. We used the space for our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The flow of the entire day ran seamlessly. They worked with us to make sure our visions for our wedding day were exactly how we wanted them. Todd even drew up detailed views of the room with our number of chairs, where the band would go, etc. to put my mind at ease. We were using an area of the room that hadn't really been used for a ceremony before, but Todd assured me that it would all be perfect. And it absolutely was! The huge loft space was beautiful. The food was delicious. The wait staff was beyond amazing. Our guests are still raving about it! I would recommend them to everyone. read more

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Anyone would be lucky to work with Gallery 1028 and the in house catering team at Calihan Catering.

We had our wedding this past weekend at Gallery 1028. This is a gorgeous industrial space with exposed brick walls and the original wood floors from when it was a leather factory back in the day. At first, we were hesitant because the address is on Hooker street. But we got over that when we saw how beautiful the space was, and it quickly became an ongoing joke that we were getting married on Hooker street. Our guests actually loved it, and it's now just one of the charming quirks of the event that we will reference for years to come. Jeffery was amazing and so easy to work with. He took care of everything for us and worked with all of our vendors to secure insurance and day of details for set up, drop off, etc. We hardly had to do a thing and the whole day went seamlessly. In fact, we're not sure if anything went wrong at all because if something did, they took care of it for us. We definitely recommend Gallery 1028 for an event space. Although I'm sure they cater mostly to weddings, it's a great space in general for any event if you're going for the industrial city vibe. read more

My family hosted my sister's wedding at Gallery 1028 in October and had a great time. Before I begin my review, I have to give you a little caveat about me - I am the Director of Event Technology at a large Hotel in Cleveland and I am involved in designing and staging a lot of high-end weddings (and other events as well). I've done weddings in tents, garages, horse barns as well as traditional venues and Hotels. I specialize in lighting design and work with lots of very talented event professionals here in Cleveland. So, with that said, when my sister got engaged, I immediately knew that I wanted to design a dream wedding for her! As my sister and her fiance were in the process of re-locating to Seattle in the midst of planning their wedding, it was a little tricky to locate a venue that met their criteria and budget. They knew that they wanted an urban, loft-style space that could be both modern and classic at the same time. They looked at several other venues and, in the end, decided on Gallery 1028 and, by extension, Calihan catering. There is one big thing to consider when you are looking at this venue - it is RAW. You will need a significant budget to transform it into a comfortable environment. I would liken it to doing a wedding in a tent as you are pretty much responsible for providing EVERYTHING - from dishes and flatware to tables, chairs, dance floor, rental items, lighting (more on this below) as well as the normal linens, centerpieces and other necessary items. When I say raw, I mean that there are original, unfinished rough hardwood floors, gaps around the windows and a working-industrial location (there is a printing company across the street and the FedEx depot on the corner). If you are considering this space, I would budget between 10-15,000 dollars for lighting, rentals above and beyond the basics (i.e. lounge furniture, bars etc.) and other decorating. If you don't know what you're doing with all this, find a good designer and possibly a good wedding planner to coordinate all the logistics. We worked with PJ from Studio AG/Alice's Garden on the specialty rentals and florals and I would highly recommend his company - they did a great job and are affiliated with the parent company of the venue, XA Scenes. In regards to lighting, you need it in this venue. The main room barely even has overhead lights (maybe 2 tracks in the entire space). There are some semi-permanent down-lights around the room as well but I would recommend hiring a lighting company to truly make the space come alive. We used Automated Lighting Designs, which is a smaller company in the Chicago market, and they had great gear and techs and were familiar with the space and it's quirks. I would suggest talking to them and getting an estimate before you commit to this space as lighting is not something that a lot of people consider (although that's changing). The good news is that the blank canvas you receive is very easy to work in and can be really special in the end. My one negative in the entire experience of planning and executing the entire event has to do with expectations and communication with XA Scenes, who manage the venue, and Calihan Catering, who are the exclusive caterers and are owned (or affiliated) with XA (it's confusing). The contract that you receive is pretty heavily weighted in their favor and you'd think that you were booking your event in some priceless mansion, not what is essentially a dirty old warehouse. That's all well and good as they have the right to protect themselves in these litigious times, but the relationships between all the various companies were tough to figure out and it seemed like every time I asked the venue manager, Katie, a question she said it was a question for Nicole, the catering manager and vice versa. There was also some last-minute drama regarding Certificates of Insurance for the various vendors that caused some unnecessary stress for my family and I. Like I mentioned, I am an event professional, so I understand where they're coming from, but I expected a little better treatment and communication considering the amount of money we were spending and how up-front we were with our intentions. One more nit-pick - they said there would be someone to call cabs at the end of the night and at midnight, there was no venue rep to do so or any cabs out front. Although it's very close to River North and Lincoln Park, a lot of cabbies don't know where the venue is so plan accordingly and have Google maps open on your phone if you've not been there before! So, overall, the event was a great success, but, as others have suggested, this is not a venue for the faint of heart. I would strongly suggest that you seek the guidance of someone who knows the ropes and how to transform a space, otherwise, I would look at a Hotel or similar venue. read more

My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception here in September 2009. It's a beautiful, raw space with lots of brick and wood. We had our ceremony and reception in the larger room, and cocktail hour in the smaller room. Calihan is the exclusive caterer, and they were great to work with -- delicious food and wonderful service. Nicole Fitzpatrick and everyone at Calihan did a great job! read more

I had been creepin' on Gallery 1028 since before I was engaged and knew that when my now husband popped the question, this was going to be on the short list of venues we looked at for our Chicago wedding. When the time came, we visited and fell in love, hard. The pictures don't do this place justice. I'll try and keep this review short and sweet. We had a 175(ish) person wedding and filled the space nicely- I'd imagine anything over 200 feels a bit crowded. Pros: -It's a blank slate. You come in and transform the space into what you would like. For me and my husband, that was a candle-filled, romantic gray, black, white and metallic soiree. -In-house catering with delicious food. A few months out, the catering department reaches out to you with a menu and you come in for a fun tasting and try EVERYTHING. The level of service at the tasting was top-notch and set the bar for what to expect during our wedding. We weren't disappointed. -The level of service deserves its own point. The staff was consistently easy to work with, accommodating and rolled with every request or change we threw at them with a smile. In addition, on the day of our wedding, my husband and I were assigned our own staff person to accommodate our every request. -3 beautiful rooms with different feels. The large room is very warm, with exposed brick and beams, while the entryway and bar area feel more modern and stark. -When the sun goes down, the room absolutely glows. It's gorgeous. Cons: -It's a blank slate. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed imagining everything together in the space- because when you're in the empty space it feels REALLY empty. -The fact that there were only 3 bathrooms created lines once, right after dinner. -The loading dock/entryway has a rather gritty/urban feel. While that has its own charm, it was a bit confusing for our older guests. I would also highly recommend covering the loading dock stairs with carpeting (an additional cost), so your ladies' heels don't get stuck in the grates. In sum, I got to have my dream wedding marrying my dream man in this space and couldn't have imagined a better experience working with Nicole, Lee and the rest of the staff. read more

Cool space for private events!! Dont let warehouse look from the outside deceive you! The place is very rustic and was perfect for the Balvenie Rare Crafts event I attended there. Glad I came to the event since everythings was well organized and it wasnt too packed where we actually had room to walk around. read more

We loved our wedding at Gallery 1028! We fell in love right when we saw it - the perfect combination of rustic and intimate. Jeffrey was super responsive, and he always accommodated us when we had family in town who wanted to stop by and see our venue. The candles package made it the perfect romantic feel, and our guests raved about the food and staff from Calihan Catering. Even though I didn't think having a private/bridal suite was a big deal since I got ready at the hotel, it was so nice to have our own space for some one-on-one time right after the ceremony and to keep our stuff. read more

I attended a few parties here and each one had a completely different feel because of the decor but the vibe at all was hip, trendy and fun. You can do so much with this raw event space that it's completely up to your imagination. The catering company next door is one of the best in the city...some other yelper said "pricey", but I'm from the school, you get what you pay for and I love great food at parties...which reminds me the last party I attended there had a popcorn bar with a few different flavors to try...still dreaming of that truffled popcorn. So...if you're looking for an interesting off the beaten path space for a great party, check it out! read more

I've been a wedding photographer for the past 10 years so I've seen almost all of the venues in the Chicago area. When I saw Gallery 1028 I knew it was where I wanted to have my wedding. The space is large enough to have the ceremony and reception, yet still provide a comfortable space for your guests to go into during cocktail hour when the main room is flipped. We had about 128 guests and it was the perfect fit. We definitely could have had more but filled the extra space in the back with a little lounge set up so our guests could sit and visit next to an electric fireplace we rented! We personally didn't have any trouble with the bathrooms and found that it was enough for our guests and there wasn't a line or anything of people waiting to use the restroom at any point during the night. In addition to the amazing space, it came with an amazing staff. We always received a prompt reply whenever we emailed with questions, and on the day of everyone went above and beyond to make sure all our guests were taken care of. I can't recommend this venue more for someone who is looking for an awesome warehouse space at an affordable rate in the city! read more

Gallery 1028 is an incredible venue! We had our wedding here 6/10/2017and we absolutely loved everything about our experience. The venue is beautiful - our guests raved about the space all night - and the free parking on Goose Island was ideal. We loved the location because we had so many people in from out of town and they weren't all comfortable driving into the Loop. Our goal was to find a space that gave us a Chicago feel, and the warehouse set-up was perfect. Even better, Gallery 1028 isn't one of those industrial spaces that feels cold and dark - it was light enough when the sun was out that we had natural light streaming into the space, and the space felt warm and comfortable all night long. We also really wanted a blank slate to design our own space and this was the perfect place! The staff here is also fantastic. They answered all of our e-mails in no time and were so great about helping us make our wedding everything we dreamed it could be. Finally, their partnership with Calihan Catering (the exclusive caterer) is top notch. It was the best wedding food ever, by far. It was truly exceptional - serious food allergies were taken care of and the presentation was outstanding. If I ever need to host a large event again, I'd use Gallery 1028 in a heartbeat! read more

My husband and I married here in October 2010. When we sat down to discuss venue options, we knew we did not want a typical suburban wedding. You know what I'm talking about- The ceremony at a local church and a reception at a nearby hotel or banquet all- maybe in a room with a cheesy name ("The Fontainbleu Room") complete with ugly carpeting, foldaway partition walls and gaudy chandeliers. We didn't want that for ourselves or our guests. Instead we wanted a wedding that looked and felt urban, masculine and chic and Gallery 1028 fit the bill perfectly. The space is phenomenal, the food was delicious (Calihan Catering owns the space and is the only catering option, but they too have great reviews!) and the staff was super friendly, professional and helpful. Their recommended vendor for floral, lighting and decor was also amazing and helped us get the vibe we wanted. Plus, they were surprisingly affordable- looking at their pictures and website, you'd never know how reasonable their rates are. Oh, and don't let the talk about portable toilets scare you away- up until 30 days out we were expecting up to 150 guests and nobody ever mentioned needing to rent additional bathrooms. Maybe they only need them for crazy-huge events? Anyway, we couldn't have asked for a better location (or food) for our big day. If you don't want to have your wedding in "he Fontainbleu Room", give the folks at Gallery 1028 a call. read more

I attended one of their promotional events and had a ton of fun! Got pretty tipsy with their cocktails and open bar. I thought the little drinks they had in champagne flutes tasted really good and realized it was simply Sunkist mixed with Vodka...definitely a dangerous combination. Service was top notch and all your empty plates are removed in record time. The catered food was amazing with 3 food stations and passed hors d'ouerves. Much of the food had a Mexican flair to it: mini tacos, churros, flautas. Gallery 1028 has 3 separate rooms that lead into one another. A great venue for a wedding, company party or engagement party. read more

we had our august wedding at gallery 1028 -- a few likes/dislikes on the venue: it's a great space. totally unique... you can make it look however you want... and it truly has that awesome urban loft/warehouse vibe that is so perfect for a non traditional wedding. however, as other reviewers have said, it's RAW. we had to bring in EVERYTHING. including soap dispensers, bathroom trash bins, and little baskets to put guest towels in... while gallery 1028 did offer those, but if you are trying to have a cohesive look for your day, you'd want all that to fit in and actually look high-end, right? not black plastic trash bins and tacky plastic soap dispensers with the labels on them still. i was actually shocked when i saw the condition of the bathrooms before we came in to work our magic. the other negative is that you are forced to use calihan catering for food... now, don't get me wrong - their food is fantastic. but we had a few issues with the staff that bothered us quite a bit. vendors - beware! they now requires a $2 mil general liability insurance policy. steep considering it's an old warehouse and most of the fanciest hotels in the country don't request that much. in the end, we had the best time at our wedding and totally loved the space... read more

Wow! Following our daughter's wedding reception at Gallery 1028 this August 22nd, we received (and still are) a flood of emails and calls from our guests, raving about the event...from the overall venue, atmosphere, music, food, selection of beverages and terrific wait staff. A big plus is that the food is prepared in kitchens located on the premises by Calihan Catering (who own the venue) instead of having it brought in from an outside location, assuring freshness and prompt service. Another big plus. The staff we worked with, Todd, Jeffery and even one of the owners, Nash Calihan, were accommodating and flexible above and beyond our expectations! Working closely with our decorating, floral and coordinating vendors, they transformed a raw space into the fabulous vision my daughter envisioned for her wedding. She was ecstatic! Nash Calihan worked closely with us when we requested an upgrade to the standard package of wine selections. The stage they arranged for the amazing 16-piece band, The Gentlemen of Leisure, along with a perfect dance floor added the extra spark of magic that kept virtually all 180 guests there until the very last minute! And despite the bright stage lights, non-stop sweat-induced dancing, the bar and main dining areas remained comfortably cool -- thanks to the high ceilings and superb air conditioning. When we originally did a walk-through of 1028 with my daughter and future son-in-law last year while reviewing different venues, the only caveat was the same one we'd read about on Yelp: only 3 bathrooms that necessitated long lines. But this year, a complete remodeling and addition of spacious, elegant and modern lavatory facilities with first-class fixtures -- plus a bridal changing room with it's own adjoining full-service washroom -- has made this ultra-flexible loft space into the perfect event venue! Gallery 1028 is So Recommended!!!! read more

This year alone, we've been to 5 weddings. And at every single one, the food was forgettable. Not ours. We've also heard stories of brides and grooms not eating at their own wedding. Not us. We made sure we ate. The food was incredible. From the cocktail hour until the last crumb of dessert, Calihan made the food so much better than any other wedding we've ever been to. It didn't overshadow the speeches or dancing, but people were definitely talking about how good it was all night and even the next day. More than that, Todd and Jeffrey made us feel taken care of, and like we were the only wedding all season. The personal care and attention we got made it so easy to work with them and it's why we'd highly recommend them. The space at Gallery 1028 was unique and made our wedding feel special, not cookie cutter like any old hotel or catering hall. They were accommodating to our every request and need, and were respectful in making the appropriate recommendations on size, layout, and personalization. The tasting and the walkthrough sealed the deal in helping us put all of our confidence into their team that they would deliver us a stress free and memorable wedding night. And they did. They even went the extra mile in helping us with some special requests, in creating a fun area in the lobby and also handing out late night dessert. We loved our wedding so much and it wouldn't have been as incredible as it was without the amazing team at Calihan and gallery 1028. Thank you thank you, Todd and Jeffrey and everyone else. You guys were amazing. read more

I found most of the vendors for my May wedding online using yelp, wedding wire, the knot, etc. I scoured reviews and hoped the best! And with Todd, Jeffrey, and a Gallery 1028-- that's what I got. Gallery was the first place we saw on our search for a romantic, rustic venue and I fell in love. I'm so glad I did because it was a great and easy experience from start to finish. You primarily work with Calihan-- their exclusive caterer (also owns the space and is located adjacent to Gallery). Don't be put off by the fact they force you to use their caterer. You'll feel lucky to have Calihan! PROS: -The food is delicious. -Calihan is great to work with. You'll enjoy wonderful service before, during, and after your event. -The rental fee is low compared to other venues we saw. -The layout is perfect for a ceremony on site. -They are extremely easy to work with and flexible. -It is a blank canvas that you can transform into the wedding or event you envision. CONS: -It definitely takes some decor to dress up the space. -It gets hot with a lot of people filling the space. Tell them to keep that air on all day. -It isn't easy to get cabs/Ubers. You feel like you have to provide transportation for your group. -There is no view of the city, or anything. But it's so beautiful inside you won't notice. I would do everything all over again at Gallery 1028!! read more

We really enjoyed our Letters From Home photo shoot at Gallery 1028! It was such a different, interesting and vintage space! It was also clean with great staff and a wonderful atmosphere. Thank you for everything! read more

My husband and I recently got married at Gallery 1028, and were blown away by the experience from start to finish. We found Gallery 1028 early on in our venue search, toured the facility and knew we had to have our wedding there. The vintage wood floors, exposed brick and wood vaulted ceilings made the space unique and very 'Chicago'. It's on Goose Island and in a very industrial part of town which we LOVED. It felt very true to Chicago and the type of wedding we wanted. It was the only place we visited but we knew it was where we would have our wedding reception. Not only is the space gorgeous but the staff are even better (if possible). Jeffrey was extremely friendly from day 1 and prompt with emails and gave great advice on decor and styling. Todd Klein, the Catering Director from Calihan was also incredible to work with. He was prompt with all emails getting back to me same day with most emails, and was patient throughout the planning process from start to finish. He met with us several times to help put our minds at ease and truly went above and beyond for us. The day of staff was just as great as Todd and Jeffrey. The wait staff was beyond attentive. Garrison made sure both of us ate and drank all evening, making us a priority above all guest which was an extra special touch that we both noticed. If you want to wow your guests with an amazing venue, food and give them world class service, book Gallery 1028. read more

Gallery 1028 was the first space we visited in our journey to find our wedding reception venue and it was love at first sight. We visited a few other places later but couldn't get Gallery out of our minds. We just had our wedding reception there last weekend and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect venue. We wanted something simple, modern yet rustic. The space has great charm and doesn't need a lot of decor to stand out. We added tons of candles, some strings of lights, simple flowers, touches of gold, grays and whites and our wedding turned out exactly how we imagined it. We received countless compliments on the space, the gorgeous bar and even the large bathrooms (remodeled recently, they are beautiful!). There was also ample parking. Gallery works exclusively with Calihan Catering, which is the best wedding food I have ever had and a fantastic vendor to work with. They are perfect if you are food-lovers like we are. The communication with both Gallery and Calihan was outstanding and they were incredibly accommodating. Gallery was the perfect space for us and I am forever thankful that we found it! read more