Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

In 1999, this historic building was converted into The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant. The restaurant's private banquet space can accommodate any party size from an intimate gathering of 8 to a fabulous cocktail party for 175 guests. For a larger event, a buy-out of the entire restaurant space is possible.

The History of The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

 The Chicago Firehouse project began in 1998. It took close to two years to acquire the property. The property was acquired through the Request for Proposal process, also known as RFP. More than 20 submitted proposals for the process and Mainstay LLC were chosen. Mainstay is the entity that owns The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant and its real estate. Matthew O’Malley is the Managing Partner of the entity which is made up of a handful of investors.

The Chicago Firehouse is located on the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th Street, at 1401 South Michigan Avenue. The building was erected in 1905 by a famous architect by the name of Charles Harmann. The Firehouse was built to serve the Prairie Avenue Community and its surroundings. Residents of Prairie Avenue consisted of many of the “first families” of Chicago such as the Marshall Fields, the McCormicks, the Palmers and the Glessners.  Prairie Avenue from 17th to 20th Street was filled with the many socialites of the day who had built homes following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It is believed that this unique firehouse, which is constructed of yellow brick and limestone (different from the standard red brick), had special attention placed on it in order to stay in keeping with the neighborhood and especially its residents.

The building stands in much of its same splendor today. However, some interesting changes have occurred. The stables, which used to house the horses for the wagons, have now been replaced with a courtyard. The upstairs, which once had a large room to store hay for the stables, has been transformed to a banquet kitchen. The remaining part of upstairs contained the living quarters for the firemen, and was where the movie Backdraft was filmed. Reminiscent of the old spiral staircase, which in the wintertime prevented the horses from climbing upstairs to the living area where the heat existed, has now been relocated to our courtyard.  Mainstay made great efforts to preserve as much as possible, but yet still allow the operation to be functional as a restaurant. The tin ceiling, the tile glazed walls, the two fire poles located in the bar, and the chief’s wall passed when entering the bar, are all original.  In the year 2008, the Chicago Firehouse Engine Company 104 is still serving the neighborhood today, but in a slightly different capacity, with its Classic American menu.