Lee’s Unleaded Blues: NOF Feature in Grand Crossing

Company Profile

Lee’s Unleaded Blues Club has been a pillar of the Chicago blues community for decades. In 1983 Ray and Leola “Lee” Grey took over ownership of the property, which had been a beloved blues venue in the 1970s, intending to both revitalize the space and honor its history. Three years after the club’s unfortunate closing in 2015, South Side-native Warren Berger acquired the building and got to work on its reopening, determined to preserve the space’s musical roots. In the words of Lee’s Unleaded Blues’ representative Anthony Campanale:

“It is intended that Lee’s Unleaded Blues, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, be renewed and again flourish on the South Side, bringing its remarkably unique and soulful brand of Blues back to Chicago. What had once been a South Side hotspot for the Blues since the 1970s, when it was the Queen Bee’s Lounge, became a blighted corner with nothing to speak of and to it but weeds.

Warren Berger worked tirelessly to revive that which had been previously a beacon of Grand Crossing – seeking to provide a destination to experience the Blues, as it was intended to be heard, when its unique sound migrated from the South to Chicago.”

Over the course of its long life, Lee’s stage has hosted blues icons from across the country as well as local legends such as Junior Wells, Magic Slim, and Koko Taylor. Last year, the club restarted the tradition with regular Saturday-night shows.

Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Impact

Lee’s Unleaded Blues received a $120,500 NOF grant in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic held up renovations for about two years. The project eventually moved forward, and the club officially reopened in 2024. The building’s interior needed significant updates and its exterior had a bowed wall that needed remediation. Grant funds were put toward work including demolition; masonry; mechanical improvements such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing; and replacements of flooring, drywall, doors, and utilities.

“The NOF, administered by SomerCor, was instrumental in giving life to a dream that ultimately will benefit all the South Side. Its assistance, especially that of Reuben Waddy, was extraordinarily beneficial in creating a path for Lee’s Unleaded to begin anew. The revival of Lee’s Unleaded Blues could not have occurred without him or the resources of SomerCor,” said Campanale.

Lee’s Unleaded Blues Club is Open for Business:

Lee’s Unleaded Blues is back and better than ever at 7401 S. South Chicago Ave. You can find them on social media at @lees_unleaded on Instagram and The New Lee’s Unleaded Blues on Facebook.

Learn more and sign up for their newsletter to be notified about upcoming events at www.leesunleadedblues.com.

Learn More About the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund

The City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund generates revenue from downtown developments to finance permanent building improvements for small businesses and nonprofits. Administered by SomerCor, NOF grants are for commercial property acquisition, improvement or new construction and can range up to $250,000. If you have a vision to strengthen the commercial corridors in Chicago’s South, Southwest, and West Sides, click here to learn more about the program.