Wicker Park's Music Legacy Lives On: Double Door Teams Up with Gallery Cabaret as Milwaukee Ave. Scores $5.6M Vote of Confidence

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Wicker Park · February 28, 2026

Wicker Park's storied music scene got a boost this week with two pieces of news that signal the neighborhood's cultural and commercial vitality is as strong as ever.

First, the iconic Double Door — a rock club that called Wicker Park home for decades before closing in 2017 — has taken an exciting new turn. Co-owner Sean Mulroney has officially abandoned plans to reopen in Uptown and is instead partnering with Gallery Cabaret owner Mike Strandberg at the legendary Bucktown dive bar at 2020 N. Oakley Ave. The venue soft-opened this past Sunday, and music fans can expect meaningful upgrades including a new sound system, non-alcoholic cocktails, food options, and eventually a green room for bands. Mulroney is even bringing staff from the original Double Door to help carry on the spirit of the beloved room. Meanwhile, the search for a permanent new Double Door — something Mulroney describes as having 'a roadhouse feel' — continues across the city.

On the real estate front, Wicker Park's Milwaukee Avenue corridor received a fresh vote of confidence on Friday when Greenstone Partners brokered the $5.6 million sale of the mixed-use property at 1455 N. Milwaukee Ave. — home to Barry's Bootcamp on the ground floor — selling for 98 percent of the asking price to a New York-based buyer. The deal underscores how sought-after Wicker Park's commercial corridors remain.

Whether you're a music devotee or a neighborhood booster, this week's news is a reminder that Wicker Park keeps reinventing itself while honoring its roots. Follow Gallery Cabaret on social media for upcoming show announcements and stop by 2020 N. Oakley Ave. to welcome the next chapter of Chicago music history.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/24/double-door-owners-abandon-plan-to-reopen-in-uptown-partner-with-gallery-cabaret-in-bucktown/
2. https://shoppingcenterbusiness.com/greenstone-parters-brokers-5-6-million-sale-of-retail-property-in-chicagos-wicker-park/