AMENITIES

Urban elegance meets industrial chic at The Zephyr, Chicago’s newly renovated loft venue on Motor Row. Housed inside a historical landmark building that was once home to Ford Motor Company, we made a point to leave all of the original timber loft charm intact while bringing the space up to snuff for 21st-century events. And then we oh-so-sophisticatedly layered in all the automation you could ask for in terms of efficiency and impact. Because at The Zephyr, turning moments into memories that will last a lifetime is our top priority.  

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Weddings Whether your vibe is farmhouse rustic or sleek and modern, The Zephyr can make your dream day a reality. And with more than $15K in amenities/rentals included and five hotels located around the corner, we can take the pressure out of the planning process. 

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Corporate From summit meetings and product launches to team-building breakouts, The Zephyr offers up to 6,500 sq. ft. of event space that can be customized for optimum performance. Ask us about our sustainable catering partnerships for fueling the creativity.

Social Birthday parties, birthday parties for your dog, gender reveals, baby showers, bar/bat-mitzvahs, milestone anniversaries, fashion shows, art shows, vendor markets, and more… the sky’s the limit at The Zephyr. Just leave the logistics (and the twinkles lights) to us. 

Galas There’s nothing we love more than pulling off a spectacular event in support of a non-profit that gives back to our community. With myriad amenities included, we’re here to raise the bar on engagement and impact—and creating an experience your guests will never forget.

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hardwood floors

15-foot ceilings

large skylights

custom affordable bar packages

open photobooth

 MCM lounge scapes

 coat check* 

exposed brick walls

cafe string lights

passenger elevator

door person

catering prep space

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programmable lights 

unobstructed floor plan

 premium chairs

 "farm" square tables

highboys

 black linens

 6-ft tables

6-ft black linens 

onsite couples lounge

parking lot available

Wifi options

flexible load in/out

 
2022 SOCIAL PRICING

Friday
$7000
*Off-Season $5500  | Holiday  $8500

Saturday
$8500
* Off-Season $6500 | Holiday $10,000

Sunday
$5500*
Off-Season $4500  | Holiday $7000

 
2023 SOCIAL PRICING

Saturday
$9500
* Off-Season $7000 | Holiday $11,000

Friday
$7500
*Off-Season $6000  | Holiday  $9500

Sunday
$6000
*Off-Season $5000  | Holiday $7500

We now offer All-Inclusive

which can include Venue, Catering, Beverage Package, Staffing, Day of Coordinator, and Rentals starting at $135pp for Saturdays. 

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Contact us for a virtual tour where we can answer your questions and give you a custom estimate.

HISTORY

Chicago’s Motor Row was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 2002. Now dubbed The Motor Row District, it’s comprised of 55 buildings that have been given official landmark status by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. This hyper-historical grouping of commercial buildings on Chicago’s Near South Side is considered to be the largest, intact, early “automobile row” in the United States—and The Zephyr sits right at its center. 

At the turn of the century, auto rows began popping up in numerous American cities as car companies sought to create districts where the sale and repair of cars could become an easy urban shopping experience—as efficient as buying a dress from Marshall Field’s or, say, a box of chocolates from Margie’s Candies. At its peak, as many as 116 different makes of automobiles were being sold on Chicago’s Motor Row. Some are familiar today, including Ford, Buick, Fiat and Cadillac, while others are better known by historians and old-car buffs, like the Hudson, Locomobile, Marmon and Pierce-Arrow.

One of the first American cars was sold from our venue by the Haynes-Apperson Company. But when the Depression hit Haynes-Apperson hard, Lincoln bought the building with funding from Ford Motor Company under the stewardship of Edsel Ford. It was in 1936 that Lincoln rolled out the Zephyr, a shining example of streamlined design from the mind of Eugene Turenne Gregorie. This monumental car inspired the conception of what is now The Zephyr, a premier industrial-chic event space located at the epicenter of history in Chicago’s South Loop.

Today, Motor Row is part of a rapidly growing retail and entertainment neighborhood within Chicago. And while some of its historic buildings have been replaced by high-rises, many of its older structures, including this building at 2229 S. Michigan Ave., have been restored to their former splendor.