Great club. Great sound! We were there after Anthony Atalla's boat cruise in July 2022. May Joe and AZA did a surprise b2b. Wow! The club has an intimate vibe. Friendly staff as well. We had a blast!! read more

Love the remodel! Super dope vibes, ambiance, hospitality. Excited to see more of hideaway!

If by "over 60 craft microbrews w seasonal rotation" you mean, 'occasionally having 60 bottles of a single local beer in the cooler in the back,' ...then yeah. Sure. Otherwise, the bar offers overpriced bottles of Modello, Lagunitas & Heineken. A bottle of water is $5. No local or craft beers. Nothing on tap. A bar that boasts over 60 craft beers is a place with a very well developed bar program, which this is not. The sound system was incredibly average: boomy bass, crass highs, zero mids. It's really hard to hear any detail in the music. The staff was superb. Super nice. Kudos on hiring great people. This is a small, dank, rudimentary basement bar that holds about 110 people - which is FINE if it's advertised that way. The reason for my low rating is that it failed to live up to it's own hype. read more

Primary Night Club - Dance Clubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Your club over charge people for watered down alcohol. That is horrible you pour drinks in the fake glasses that are not even a shot. A shot cost $16 00. A consumer can buy a bottle for that price. Your club is full of crap. Oops $5.00 to check your jacket. read more

Decent size room, sound was good. Wouldn't mind checking it out again. Mandatory coat check.

I had a really great experience at this club. I was in Chicago this past weekend to celebrate my homegirl's bachelorette party. The Hunk-O-Mania male revue was performing. The acoustics were very nice. The drinks were really strong. The performance was really great. We had a ball!!! read more

Went for ARC after party and Thursday sound check this week and both times were just not it. The venue itself isn't an issue at all. The issue is their security guards that walk the dance floor. They take their job way too serious. You'll be dancing and next thing you know the security guard is literally shoving you out of his way to go stand and scan the crowd every 5-10 minutes. It's excessive and kills the vibe with their stupid little flashlights. If you want to dance with security guards breathing down your neck for no reason this is the place for you! read more

I came here for 50 shades of black event and it was a vibe the drinks where great and the music was warm to my soul . I recommend coming here even if you would love to throw a event read more

It's unsafe and irresponsible to charge for water. I wound up spending nearly as much on water as I did on the ticket itself. Prioritizing profit over safety is unacceptable. read more

We were in the neighborhood after dinner and the bday girl wanted to continue the party so we went to this really small nightclub with youngsters in their teens and twenties. Not my kinda of fun but we did shake a leg and out in less than 30'mins after a few beers.Music was subpar and not sure if it's really a dance club. read more

Closed by the city! Not open! Came by here on the Yelp and Time Out recommendations but the club isn't open during hours and there's a son posted here as of June 28th says that it won't be open until they get "electrical and structural issues" handled. So don't waste the time coming here until its resolved. I'll gladly remove the review once they reopen. read more

Primary Night Club - Dance Clubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this spot!!! Great house / dance music on the weekends. Great DJs as well. The staff was very kind and we had a great time.

This place must have reopened with a different sound system, because it is not good. Weak boomy bass, harsh treble, no mids. Really disappointing. Also, they charge for water. read more

I came here wanting to use my check-in deal from yelp (no cover until midnight) The lady working the door said that you couldn't use the check in deal tonight because it was a "private venue" wait what? That makes no sense. I asked to speak with the manager and the lady said i could do it outside- the manager never came outside.... I wasted a very good saturday night ubering over to this club that didn't even look like there was anyone inside. read more

It was dead, too much smoke and I didn't like the crowd. Oh wait. There was no, it was dead. The only people who were inside either danced with themselves or just stood around. Pretty sad for a club. I told me friends not to go... but well. No one listens. If you're visiting Chicago and you want a very cool vibe, young crowd, a little hipster, music, pubs and bar hopping, then you should go to Wicker Park !!! read more

For Audiophiles only: This club has the best sound system hands down. Great for House, Techno, Minimal, Dance type of music. I suggest only dance fans to visit this place. Its a small club, a bit larger and better layed-out then Spybar. But certainly a better venue than most Chicago clubs I've been too. I plan to come here again, my first show here was Sat. May 18, for the Julio Bashmore show. Great venue. In my toplist forsure. Also the LED screen behind the DJ is cool. Displays simultaneously with the music. read more

Imagine a very dark place with cool lights and so much bass that your balls are flapping against your stomach while you sit... This place is visually interesting. Pretty Expensive drinks. The Security are very nice guys. To be honest, I'm okay with out... went to Neo instead. read more

Primary Night Club - Dance Clubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Charging for water is unsafe and irresponsible. I ended up paying close to the ticket price for water... Making a quick buck at the expense of safety is whack read more

I've been avoiding this place like the plague. Not because it sucks but because I'm too fat to dance. Or so I thought. It turns out the VOID sound system got me pregnant. That's right! They artificiallHE inseminated me. Don't ask to see the sonogram because it's about as scary as my dancing. Or should I say Mancing? Probably not because both statements are awful/scary/horrible. This place is still awesome although at some point I'm going to have to put my bromophobia on hold because eventually I'm going to have to blow a dude for a parking spot that doesn't require a gps,Sherpa and 2 gallons of water. If you have made it this far in this update I'm sorry, they have kick ass music here and a nice dance floor. I have committed many pseudo crimes to society whilst trying to do the running man on an even manlier frame. If I'm really sweating that means I've had one of their great beers or cocktails. If I'm not sweating that means I must have shit my pants on the hour car ride it takes me to get from Aurora to here. Either way say hello and I might show you how to do the Caucasian crab or the white boy boogaloo . read more

PPH= Primary Proper House (music) Primary sets the stage for what a real house music club should be! if you like legit dance music from all over the world, this is your place. Boutique sound system by Void is perfectly arranged and sounds AH-MAZe-ING! Huge LED wall behind the dj booth illuminates the whole place and will have even the most geeked out ragers trippin balls. this place truly is a jem at Rush/Division and unlike any club that has EVER been in this saturated, drunk, STD ridden neighborhood. At Primary you will NOT hear top 40 unlike ALL of the clubs in the surrounding area. The international talent this place brings in says it all. The talent behind the bar is also top notch and the drink prices are reasonable. Count on this place to attract great dj's for Electronic Music festival after parties. Come ready to to dance and loose yourself, Primary is the gatekeeper to Chicago House Music. read more

This establishment is a glistening oasis in the mirage of other so called underground clubs. The owner has class and expert musical taste. Couple that with a grade A sound system and rotating cast of top notch dj bookings including legends of the industry and you can't ask for much more. Most reviews I have read have their authors falling into these categories: 1. Haters who have no idea what good dance music is. 2. Random straggling drunks who can't get In quickly enough to feed their bad habits and take it out on long lines for in demand acts. 3 Dumbasses. 4 Local business trolls who feel threatened. 5 People who have no idea what a real underground club is. No Avicii is not playing. 6. LAST BUT NOT LEAST. Real educated non fake true heads that know what is what and realize that this place is a gem. Knowing is half the battle. To all others, you need a lesson. read more

Definitely a great spot if you're looking to just dance. I've been here a couple times and it's always been a good time. Came for Bonobo and they had free coat check. Awesome! Always a laid back crowd, people that actually like the music! There really is a difference when the crowd is there for the music and when they aren't. People are less pushy, more friendly, and you might even meet a fellow electronic music lover! Yaaay! It might be next to some of the worst bars in Chicago, but hopefully that wont deter people from coming here. They have some nice drink specials, and for the hipster in you PBR. I always recommend this place for people who are looking to listen to some (real) house music. Keep it up Primary, you have a great thing going! read more

Very glad that this club opened. It's owned by someone that loves music, and you can tell by their bookings and attention to detail... It's one of the few spaces in the country to have a VOID sound system, it's a treat for a DJ to spin, and perfect for the audience to enjoy. I love the LED wall they've added, and they even installed paneling from the original Sonotheque nightclub inside. It seems like every week they keep adding something new and improving the space. This is not only an amazing and authentic find in the immediate area, but a great addition to Chicago's dance music scene. read more

After taking almost an hour to find parking, which is normal for the area, I was impressed with the sound system they have. Great lows and extremely well defined mids and highs, so nice to be able to actually hear the music the way it should be listened to. Not with blown speakers or a low rent sound system like many clubs in Chicago. Primary is small, but they have plenty of room to dance and sit around if you just want to listen to the great house music. Elroy was spinning and he killed it! Great place, wish we had a teleporter or helicopter to make it easier to venture to. read more

Re: Parking Ok before I get to the club review -- people pay SUPER ATTENTION to the parking signs and read all of it or take the CTA to the area because the city is swarming around the Gold Coast towing cars as parking restrictions went into effect. And this suburbanite was not thinking too much about it because there was not snow and it was late. I got hoodwinked on Division & Wells. Shame the city has such debt because you'd like to think some of the money could go to CPS students. Re: Primary While I had some qualms as I will address - for me it is always about the music. Same thing with restaurants, so I weight that like 75%. And the music was bumping as I went to see Poolside (see "Next to You" on Youtube). I felt it was a pretty positive crowd because I hate how stuck up the Mid gets and I am not going to Congress anymore because their acoustics are horrible. The act following them was solid too. And for just $10 - that is not to bad. Areas for improvement - * The floor hurts your feet in dress shoes. I'd wear gym shoes but didn't know the dress policy and I know dance is a bit more upscale than my native Hip Hop * ATM fee of $4.95 was over the top * $3 mandatory coat check - Can we just make it free and factor the cost into the drinks? It mostly feels like a waste of money. * A bartender kept cutting across the dance floor by the bar on the right as you enter, kinda disrupts your positive dance vibe. * Does the dance floor need to rise to a different level from the regular floor?Again, an obstacle towards dancing and harder to traverse when dark and drinking * The sound system is good but I get spoiled by my modified Honda Civic * Would be sick to have some neon racing lines on the floor (fits the culture too) leading towards the bathroom - not so much because you forget location but to remind people to not get in the way. All this said - I will look for the promoters text # and be back. Hope they do link up with North Coast festival. Alright, back to this Above & Beyond Group Therapy 003 mix on Soundcloud. Peace. read more

Great music here, hard to not spend the entire night dancing! The only thing that really bothered me and the group of 10 people I was there with- was the bartender at the back bar this Saturday night. She was not even the smallest bit interested in serving drinks to people, and spent the entire time flirting with men. I waited 15 minutes on two separate occassions behind two guys for a drink, gave up and went across the club to the main bar where I was served immediately. It's such bad business, wouldn't you want someone working who can quickly serve people, and doesn't spend the night ignoring all women that approach the bar? Especially at $11 a pop. When she was willing to serve you, she was compeltely inept. I was drinking Ketel & soda with a lemon all night- they ran out of Ketel at some point. I saw her ask someone to grab more, but after she had already poured Ketel into my cup, she grabbed Grey Goose and finished making my drink. I would have waited, no one else was there, but she was too busy talking to her friends to ask me. She's also the master of starting to make a drink, then deciding to leave your drink behind the bar so she can pour free shots of fireball for her friends. Don't worry though, she'll get back to you a few minutes later and ask you what you want again. read more

This place is handled top-notch in every regard. The beer and alcohol selection is massive. The staff and bartenders are friendly and energetic. They take the time to bring in real talent and DJ's you won't see anywhere else in Chicago. As far as the technology and sound system in this place goes, it's all out for a small space. You won't find much else to compare it to. If I had to pick out anything, the parking can be rough and almost impossible on the weekend, but really, you should be taking a cab anyway. Save yourself the headache and make your night easy. read more

Great looking little basement bar. Employees from the door guy to the bartenders were nice and polite. Best drink special I've ever seen: $8 for a 16 oz PBR and a shot of Jamo or $6 for a Tecate and shot of tequila. This was on a Thursday. Needless to say, one of us blew chunks all over the Uber cab that night. Great deep house music, nice crowd. Reminds me of my spot in Michigan called the Grasshopper Underground. Check it out if you're ever in MI and love deep house! read more

Hmmmm I want to write a really good review because the music was great (house and techno) but I got harassed by two dudes while dancing alone. $10 for a whiskey on rocks or a vodka redbull is kind of steep for a creative worker like me but the LED panel with cute visuals makes for a nice distracting experience if you have no one to talk to. In short, it would be very difficult for a poor single lady to get drunk here. You might think I'm writing this review to slam a place that has genuinely good music and a decent crowd, but hey, I'm a desirable hip twenty-something; my opinion matters! read more

The best thing about Primary is simply the music -- if you're a true connoisseur of dance music, you'll love this place. If you didn't get into dance music before the term "EDM" was coined and your idea of what a nightclub should be like revolves more around gogo dancers, bad tans, and "epic bass drops," most of the nights at this place probably aren't for you. The staff and promoters have done an excellent job bringing in talent across multiple genres, oftentimes taking big risks on artists most other clubs will pass over simply due to projected turnouts -- this alone should warrant support from dance music fans, as this is one of the few clubs that still takes their patrons into consideration when planning out bookings. The Void sound system is one of the best in the city. The fact that the booth is not above the crowd also provides a more intimate connection between performer and the crowd -- but please don't bother the DJ while they're playing! This is definitely a place with many loyal supporters and a generally respectful, fun crowd. The club is located near Viagra Triangle, so you can expect occasional douchebaggery -- security is respectful but quick to act, so my best tip is not to try to start s**t with anyone, especially security, since the last thing they care about having in the club is another bro/princess. As far as the drinks go, the prices are way reasonable for a club in this area. I've been to Detention and Hang Uppe and a few other spots in the area and the drink prices are pretty hefty, but also the amount of pretentiousness you have to deal with along with all that make those other places especially not fun for anyone who understands anything about being a civilized human being. Having been involved in nightlife for about 16 years, I can tell that most of the people who rated this club poorly are probably those who are used to the preferential/gender-biased treatment they receive at the other clubs in the area...but people who do nothing for the industry have always been trying to figure out ways to get something for nothing. Primary is not a club that rewards patrons for throwing money at them, but rather a place that tries to earn actual respect from its patrons and supporters through reasonable cover charges for great talent, along with a friendly staff and fun environment. read more

LED wall, fog machine They can show you incredible things Drinks, techno, beautiful women Saw you there and I thought Oh my god, look at that face You look like my next mistake, Love's a game, do you wanna play-ay? Asian girl, bar-tending Slinging drinks as fast as you seen Mojitos, Hemingway's fave Swinging hips, I'm in a daze Hey redhead, let's be friends Dying to see how this one ends Dirty looks from her other friennnds... So it's gonna be forever Or it's gonna go down in flames Listen to that Void system, Wish they'd play a little mainstream, Got a long list of ex-lovers They'll tell you I'm insane 'Cause you know I love the players And you love DJ Spiiiin So goddamn reckless You've moved a little too far Low ceiling leaves me breathless Left my credit card at the bar Never too late for bottle service Though that sounds a little insane But I've got a blank space, baby And I'll write your name Dark dance floor, neon lights They can show you incredible things Dresses clinging, defined thighs I'm blinded by my phone screen Let me find out, what you want Be that girl, for the month Wait the worst is yet to coooome Flower girl, selling roses I can still make the tables turn Enter the Void, Sunday night Keep me second guessing like "Oh my god, who is he?" I get drunk on jealousy Maybe it's time that I leeeeave So I guess the night is over And it's gonna go down in flames Pretty sure I'll be hungover But the high was worth the pain Probably next time bring some wingmen So I don't look so insane 'Cause you know I love the readheads But she's got some sh**ty friennnnds So goddamn reckless But I recom-mend this place It'll leave you breathless Or with a date post-haste Gotta go to catch my uber Man single life is lame Cause I have a blank space, baby And I'd write your name read more

Primary is consistently a great spot to hang out at in the city. Everyone that works there is pleasant and seems to be as happy to be there as the crowd is. The owner is always there making sure you are having a good time even once in a while throwing you a couple drink tickets to take care of your friends. If sound quality is something you are looking for in your nightlife experience well search no further... this is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There is no better equipped club to handle electronic music in Chicago. The main wall behind the dj is covered with hundreds of LED lights and if you stare long enough it turns into the largest LiteBrite you have ever seen. So yeah, go there, get crazy, be wierd and have fun. rew read more

Worst night club I have ever been to. I came from California to visit the scene here and this club was completely empty from 12am to 2am. Which are prime night clubbing hours. They reel you in with FALSE ADVERTISEMENT of free cover charge with yelp check in, but they always charge you regardless saying "it is a private event with a big DJ, so we don't allow yelp check in" PLEASE READ THIS Save your money and go somewhere else. They also do not give back your money even if youre just inside for a minute. F the Latina girl working the front. read more

I went to Primary on Tuesday night. Apparently, it's $2 Tuesdays, where beers, "bombs" and drinks are just two bucks the whole night. Good deal considering a normal drink with a mixer can run you $8+ if you don't buy the deal drinks. The place is small with two bars on each end. Watch your step! People started to come in around 12am but it closes at 4am. And the place does get packed. There was a small Asian girl bartending that was fast and friendly; she even remembered my name after being there for 2.5 hours. However, there was a fat blonde chick behind the bar that was kinda rude to me and my friend for no reason. Oh, they do open tabs but they take both your card and license so don't forget to get it when you're done. For the ladies that what to stunt- the tables are pretty cheap and there is plenty of seating that the security allows you to sit on. There was a DJ and the music was mostly house with rap and trap music mixed in. The crowd was over 21 but mostly Hispanic. Overall, it was a nice dance scene on a Tuesday night. read more

The bartender had the nerve to catch an attitude with me on a Tuesday night because I asked if they had a drink menu. First of all, nobody is here so don't be a jerk to the only person that can potentially tip you. Second of all, don't charge $9 for a crappy rum and coke and $5 for bottle water instead of tap water on a Tuesday night. Update: the manager ended up giving me a couple of free drinks but I'm so turned off by this place that I won't be going back. read more

If Bill Hader's Saturday Night Live character Stefon ever left NYC, I think he would recommend this place! All jokes aside, I've welcomed this place with open arms to Chicago! It's got everything to do with their sick sound system!!! read more

It's a chill place. If you like electronic rave music, it's the place to be. I've been here a few times. First time to check in. Garden level. The prices for drinks are quite decent. Casual club etiquette. Be cool and be patient. read more

I love this place, the sound system, and the music that is booked. The neighborhood, not so much. The spot has an uphill battle because of this, but as long as real music lovers continue to support the spot, there can be a "diamond in the rough" in the Viagra Triangle. I won't let the neighborhood affect my star rating as that is out of the control of the nightclub itself. The owners seem to be real music lovers who are not wanting to sell out and play top 40 and the same old club shit all weekend long. There are plenty of bars to hear that stuff at. It is important that Chicago has variance with music in its nightlife scene no matter what the style / genre. Don't try to park around there. I have been ticketed many times on some bullshit and even towed. Better to take a cab of which there are always plenty. read more

This is the former location of Club Funk, but I have some helpful advice for owners of Primary, You aren't going to stay open if you charge a cover charge for women! Most hmmm about 99% of the clubs in a 2 mile radius of this place do not charge women to enter therefore; you are pretty much deterring 50% of your clientele and decreasing liquor sales. Two, the place does not have a classy looking decor, so by all means if you are charging a cover to get in there please know that it's a huge disappointment when people walk inside and see a torn up concrete floor, unfinished walls, and cheap tables! I felt like I was on the set of a horror film. The DJ's are okay, but they aren't worth the cover charge, because there's clearly no other reason why a person would pay to get in this spot. It also doesn't help that Primary is replacing a club that did not charge women. People you have so many other options next door, across the street, down the street and etc, why bother with Primary? The bartenders mix their over-priced drinks like they are running out of alcohol and the place is practically empty...hmm for a good reason, I suppose. Most bars in the Division street, Rush and State street area are packed and have the type of drink specials that keep patrons cheering, dancing, and enjoying themselves. Primary can stand to learn from their competitors. If you want to attract people in this club first get rid of the cover charge and allow people to come in and try to the place out, because Primary is at the "auditioning stage" to attract the Division street crowd. Division street party goers are not rookie drinkers and are no stranger to staying out until 5 or 6 am, so if you are going to go to a club that's worthy of dancing the night away in people stay away from Primary, because you DON'T get what you pay for there! ******* Since, I posted this summary, I have received two very insulting requests from Primary demanding that I remove my review (please see my compliments section). Truth is the expectations for a bar or night club in the Gold Coast - Division street area is in line with my expectations. While, I've outgrown the club scene since, I posted this review, I seriously doubt that Primary has changed much. I've noticed that there are a great deal of positive reviews about this place, but based on what I witnessed while patronizing Primary, I'm going to assume the reviews are not accurate! read more

DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE!!! Let me start by saying that I really liked this place for the sounds quality and decent underground DJs (Lane 8 was amazing!). However, this all changed on Saturday night (4/16) once I went outside for a smoke and some fresh air and then was not being able to get back to the club. Apparently, I was "too drunk" to get back in. My other two friends (who had more drinks than me) were let in with no problems. That's after paying $20 for cover and only spending about an hour in the club. Of course, no refund was given and the bouncers (big black guy especially) and the manager were super rude and unprofessional. Like others mentioned, the drinks were also overpriced and weak. We left the place and went to Spy Bar instead. I would recommend you do the same and AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST!! read more