Buddy Guy's Legends to Move
Posted by Dan | | Posted On Sep 1, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Well the blues club from my favorite blues musician, that I have merely glanced from the outside, is going to move. Yes Buddy Guy's legends is going to move to a new location. Now don't get upset it is only going to move about a block and it is getting a bigger building.
"You know when I first opened Legends, people were complaining that the club was too big for a blues club," Guy said. "Now we've become too small and need more space. In the new place we'll have more room for people so when I play or my friends like the Stones or [Eric] Clapton come play, people won't have to stand outside 'cause they can't get in."I for one welcome the move, but it still doesn't increase the chances of me going to Chicago anytime soon.
Guy's love of Chicago blues dates to 1957, when he got off a bus from Louisiana and heard great music coming from nearly every South Side storefront bar. ...
I hope the new place has the same feel as the old one. Bigger is not always better. Best of luck. D.S. Williamson
So long as it doesn't feel like the House of Blues I think we're okay.
Buddy's opened mid'89. Their lease hasn't been renewed since early'99. They were supposed to be out May'99. (Landlord donated building to Columbia College). For whatever reason: Buddy's 'legend'-ary status,a good relationship w/Mayor Daley, neigborhood pressure,(or perhaps Columbia still isn't ready to do their build-out, & is happy to collect rent), the club has "stayed put" without a lease for over 10yrs, longer than they ever -had- a lease! Legends'll move when they damn well feel like it. Don't hold your breath.
Legend's proposed move,latest of many:700 S. Wabash, from 754). Didn't Buddy already buy a building west on Balbo,(cross-street at 700 S.)? Maybe he decided to keep his Balbo tenant & buy another place for the club. It's a buyer's market, & Buddy's got the cash. Then again, maybe he'll keep his -new- tenant, too, & stay where he is. Nothing would surprise me at this point!