Neighborhood News: West Town’s Salt Shed brings music, evokes memories
“When it rains, it pours”
Morton Salt Company
For many decades, the giant ‘Morton Salt Girl’ ad on the roof of their salt shed on the Kennedy Expressway (I-90) going north was a visible reminder that you were in the West Town neighborhood, and that Morton Salt was a true Chicago product.
History of The Salt Shed
According to the Chicago Architecture Foundation, throughout the 1900’s, barges carrying tons of salt would travel the Chicago River to the Morton factory where salt would be transferred via conveyor belt to the storage shed. With uses for the salt ranging from pharmaceutical and chemical processing to household uses, water softening and road de-icing, Morton Salt became a staple in industrial Chicago, once processing more than 150,000 tons of salt annually.
The ‘Elston Dock,’ as it was called, piled salt high for commercial distribution, but when operations ceased in 2015, developers created a fitting tribute to founder Joy Morton, a businessmen and philanthropist who had founded the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. His mother was an accomplished artist, musician, and gardener.
Therefore, it was entirely fitting that a music venue would stand in that place. The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Avenue, opened in 2022, is an indoor/outdoor performance and community space. The venue is open seven days a week and is home to musical acts of all kinds. The space is also available for private events and community events such as makers markets and yoga classes.
As the Chicago Architecture Foundation notes, the 4,000-person venue quickly became beloved among Chicagoans for its impressive acts, community involvement, and thoughtful renovation. The site retains several original architectural features including the factory’s 4-inch-thick wood floors, iron skeleton frame, Chicago brick, metal warehouse doors, salt elevators, and more. The conveyor belt structure has been artfully repurposed as framing for the outdoor venue while the 50-foot-tall ceilings and column-free space indoors make it ideal for concerts.
As its website notes, The Shed features a state-of-the-art soundsystem by L-Acoustics, multi-level ticketing tiers to customize your Shed experience, and plentiful bars to meet your beverage-consuming needs. All of this is located within the unique A-Frame structure of the building, “a renovated beauty with no shortage of history, charm, and industrial elegance.”
Nestled between The Shed and the Chicago River, with a panoramic view of the wondrous Chicago skyline, The Fairgrounds is their elevated festival-style communal space.
The Fairgrounds features a custom grandstand structure, premium balcony and rooftop ticketing options, and a rotating mix of Chicago’s finest eateries and retail shops.
Today: “A multi-purpose creative hub, with music as its beating heart.”
As Wikipedia sources note, the first concert was held on The Fairgrounds on August 3, 2022, with a performance by Fleet Foxes. After renovations were completed, The Salt Shed opened to the public on February 18, 2023, with a performance by Big Gigantic.
Since opening, The Salt Shed has hosted musical acts including Bishop Briggs, Brent Faiyaz, Cigarettes After Sex, Death Cab for Cutie, Galantis, The Roots, Thundercat, Tove Lo, Tycho, and Ween. The venue has also held other types of events since opening such as EEEEEATSCON (food festival) and The Eric Andre Explosion (standup comedy show presented by Eric Andre).
In January 2025, Green Thumb Industries and The Salt Shed announced a two-year partnership to sell THC products on-site, including marijuana, gummies and chocolates, and THC Margaritas. (yes, it’s legal in Illinois for 21+. Act accordingly.)
Upcoming Events
The Salt Shed has an exciting summer of musical entertainment planned. This Friday, May 30, the Fairgrounds will host Hippo Campus – FLOOD Tour, followed by BOMBA ESTÉREO + RAWAYANA: ASTROPICAL TOUR 2025 on Tuesday, June 3. Caamp comes in on June 5, and 20 Years of Bloc Party: Silent Alarm & Hits, with Blonde Redhead follows on June 8.
A complete list of concerts, as well as information on how to purchase tickets, is available by clicking here.
Here’s to summer… Enjoy, everyone!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
