The owners of an independent boutique hotel coming to Northalsted have unveiled the business’s name and updated design.
Backbeat, set to open in 2028 at 3255 N. Halsted St., will be the first hotel to open on the Northalsted strip. Its name is a nod to Chicago’s status as the birthplace of house music.
The six-story hotel replaces the two-story building that housed Yoshi’s cafe until it closed in 2021, as well as an adjacent one-story building. Demolition is planned to begin this summer, followed by 18 months of construction.
Newly released renderings from Jonathan Splitt Architects (architect) and Studio Rodrigo Buelvas (interior design) show an updated facade featuring clear, vertical panels with LED lighting that can be programmed with different colors based on events, occasions and holidays.
“It was important to us that this project feel like a continuation of Northalsted’s legacy, not an interruption of it,” said Bob Sievers, owner of InFocus Builders, Inc., one of the hotel’s business partners. “We drew inspiration from the existing landscape, including the brickwork, tones and textures, so the building itself feels connected to the neighborhood rather than imposed upon it.”
The hotel will also have a rooftop pool and bar with a retractable roof for year-round use; a ground-floor restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor spaces that draw inspiration from Yoshi’s; and a below-ground lounge and music venue. All three amenities will be open to the public.
The hotel will have 50 rooms, including 12 suites.
The hotel is LGBTQ+-owned and the first boutique hotel of its kind in the neighborhood. Owners said it’s intended to be an investment in the future of Northalsted as a historic LGBTQ+ district.
“From the beginning, we envisioned this as more than a hotel,” Sievers said. “It’s a place that builds on a history of inclusivity and belonging, not just for our guests, but for the community to gather, celebrate, or just enjoy a cup of coffee.”
Future updates on the hotel’s timeline and announcements will be shared on its social media channels.
