City Winery, a New York-based restaurant and event space that aims to bring the experience of a winery into dense, urban environments, has settled on a space in the West Loop.

In an email to Chicago Journal on Monday, City Winery founder Michael Dorf said they’ve settled on 1200 W. Randolph St., a 28,000-square-foot property with a single-story warehouse.

The West Loop City Winery will be the second outpost of a concept he launched in New York in 2006. Dorf said the 1200 W. Randolph building is now under contract to buy.

“This is the ideal location for us in the heart of the West Loop and will give us a perfect building to house our winery, restaurant, private event rooms and concert hall,” Dorf wrote in the email. “We have a period of time to finalize some components before closing and starting construction, but having a contract on a site is a major step forward for City Winery Chicago.”

Originally, Dorf was aiming to move into the Sullivan Center in the Loop proper at State and Madison streets. But when Target made plans earlier this year to take over the entire space for its new urban store concept, Dorf had to look for a new place.

While he was just going to rent space in the Sullivan Center, Dorf is now seeking to buy a building outright.

Chicago Journal first reported on City Winery's plans in August.

---

By Tom.D from West Town
Posted: 09/09/2011 12:00 PM

"aims to bring the experience of a winery into dense, urban environments" Sounds awesome! Obviously, they won't have the rolling hills of grape vines and migrant pickers, but I would love to have an event in a large space where every surface is designed to be hosed down and bleached, which is full of giant stainless steel vats, and is permeated by the scent of yeast doing its magic! Or maybe they meant a minimally lit cave full of damp wood? That would be cool too!