- Credibility:
UPTOWN — After years of fighting to stay in Wicker Park, followed by months of speculation about where they would go next, Ald. James Cappleman (46th) shocked many when he announced that the shuttered Double Door rock club would be heading to Uptown.
But months of silence from the club’s owners followed by the shocking removal of the iconic Double Door sign Wednesday night left many wondering: will the Double Door really come back?
Back in December, the Double Door owners put up a sign at the old Wilson Avenue Theater at 1050 W. Wilson Ave. announcing The Smashing Pumpkins were opening a pop-up merchandise shop to promote the Double Door’s new location.
Credit: Tim Regan 
Credit: Tim Regan / Block Club ChicagoThat prompted Cappleman to make the announcement, touting another independent music venue in Uptown’s entertainment district.
“Well, the secret is out. … Double Door, welcome to Uptown’s Entertainment District in the 46th Ward,” Cappleman posted on Facebook.
Over the last year, Double Door owner Sean Mulroney has not responded to multiple requests for comment. Co-owner Joe Shanahan also has not returned multiple calls for comment.
Despite the silence from the Double Door, Cappleman still “feels confident” the move will happen, according to his chief of staff Tressa Feher.
“This is not totally unusual for small local businesses,” she said. “It can take a long time to get a deal worked out.
Feher said the owner of the Wilson Theater building, Cedar Street Companies, is “used to working with smaller, unique properties” and that they have “more patience than most landlords.”
“So if any group could make it work, it’s CEDARst,” she said.
Cedar Street did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Many Wicker Park residents were hoping the Double Door’s iconic sign would remain in the neighborhood.
But when it came down with absolutely no warning — not even to the ward’s alderman Daniel La Spata (1st) — residents speculated the sign would be heading to the Uptown location.
Credit: Matthew DohertyA spokesperson for CA Ventures — the new building owners at the Double Door’s former location — said the sign removal was required by the city, and would not say where it was taken or what will happen to it.
“The future use of the sign is yet to be determined,” a CA Ventures spokesperson said.
On Thursday, there was no sign in sight at the future Uptown home of the club.
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