The Hideout, a well-known performance venue and bar in Bucktown, has changed ownership for the first time in thirty years, according to a Mar. 19 announcement. Teri O’Brien, a former intern and employee at the Hideout, has purchased the establishment from longtime owners Tim and Katie Tuten and Mike and Jim Hinchsliff.
The change is significant for Chicago’s music and arts community, as the Hideout has been recognized for its role in supporting emerging artists and hosting civic events. O’Brien said she plans to keep all current staff members and maintain existing programs without interruption. She also intends to split her time between Chicago and Nashville while considering updates that will preserve the venue’s unique atmosphere.
“My main goal is to continue the legacy and build upon the community. … I’m not changing anything,” O’Brien said. “I think even in the last few days, I’ve realized what big shoes I have to fill. Honestly, I’m humbled, but I’m very committed.”
Tim Tuten said in a press release that “The Hideout will stay the Hideout. It will remain independent, creative and rooted in the community that built it. Teri knows our room, the people and our history, and she has the heart to carry it forward.”
Since opening as a legal bar after Prohibition in the 1930s, The Hideout has hosted influential musicians such as Jeff Tweedy, Jason Molina, Neko Case, and Andrew Bird. Bird said in a statement that “If it were simply a profit-driven business I don’t think it would’ve worked… The fact that it’s being passed to an employee is definitely encouraging that it will continue in its original spirit.” The venue is also known for launching comedians like Aziz Ansari and Amy Schumer.
O’Brien brings experience as both musician Brontë Fall and event coordinator to her new role. She previously worked at Ravinia and organizes Big Heart Fest in honor of her late father John O’Brien.
Reflecting on future challenges facing independent venues—only about 22 percent are profitable according to recent reports—O’Brien said she is ready for what lies ahead: “I’m so excited about what can be done… The Hideout has lived for 30 years, and it’s my job to make sure it lives on for another 30 or 40 years. And I don’t take that lightly.”
