Medinah Temple

Located in the Near North Side/River North district to the north of the Loop. The magnificent Medinah Temple was built for the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners), opening on October 31, 1912. Designed in a unique Moorish style by architectural firm Huehl & Schmid its mass of bricks is overwheming in the city streets. On each corner were bullet shaped terra cotta domes. They were replaced in 1939 with taller domes, and in 1954 they were replaced by copper domes, replaced again in 2003. The huge auditorium in a Moorish style of decoration had semi-circle seating on three levels. The stage extended in front of the proscenium with some of the seats on each side of it. In 1915 the auditorium was equipped with an Austin 5 manual 92 ranks organ, one of the larges organs installed in the city. The 5 manual console was located in the gallery. In 1931 a movable 4 manual console was installed, in the auditorium which was attached to the main organ chamber.

The Medinah Temple hosted the annual Medinah Shrine Circus for many years. Many concerts performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra took place aided by the fine acoustics in the auditorium. Although it was never a regular cinema, there were occasions when films were screened as special events.

The Medinah Temple was closed in 1999 when the entire block was sold to a real estate developer. In 2000 the Shriners left the building, and it was designated a Chicago Landmark Building on June 27, 2001. In March 2001 the City Council approved the removal of the organ to be donated to the St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Old Mill Creek, IL. It was never installed possibly to due to the high cost, and the organ has been logged as being ‘Lost’.

In 2003 following alterations, which included constructing a four floored pod within the building, retaining most of the side-wall decorations, the proscenium and the domed ceiling. It was opened as a Bloomingdales Home & Furniture Department Store. In June 2019, Bloomingdale’s parent company, Macy’s, sold the building to Chicago developer Al Friedman. Bloomingdales closed the store in September 2020 and it was designated for development.

On May 5, 2022 it was announced that the Medinah Temple would be renovated and used as a temporary home for Bally’s Casino, who were about to begin to build a new casino in the River West District, to be completed in 2026. The necessary approvals were given for the go ahead by the Mayor of Chicago, Chicago City Council and the Illinois Gaming Board, and Bally’s Casino was opened on September 9, 2023.

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