Stephanie Ballesteros: Rumba in Chicago: Mannequin Nightclub

Check out the article online at:
http://rumbainchicago.com/index.php/clubs/night-club-recomendado

or read it here!

Mannequin Nightclub

Written by: Stephanie Ballesteros

Where the runways of Chicago meet the dance floor

As you walk through this lavish nightclub you can't help but to notice the plastic women, the mannequins that is. The 15,000 sq. feet dance club and lounge has been seduced by fashion, surrounded by life like mannequins wearing the latest trends. The high-end mannequins are showcased in eight glass display cases scattered throughout the club. The club allows big fashion designers and even local artist to rent out these mannequins and
dress them up in order to capture a specific theme or look. Playboy and Victoria's Secret (whose mannequin got the company in trouble for being too sexy) are just some of the few designers who have already rented out mannequins.

Mannequin's owners who are involved in the fashion industry, wanted to do something different with the space so the concept behind Mannequin was to combine the nightlife with the fashion world.

Mannequin's Marketing Director, Frank Isais says, the main idea of this was to bring out the Chicago fashion world, "When people talk about the fashion industry they talk about New York, Miami, L.A, nobody ever mentions Chicago but there is a big fashion industry in Chicago. We have a lot of local designers and original boutiques that people don't know about and our idea is to bring that out and have a canvas for them to display their talents."

What makes Mannequin a very diverse and classy place, is not only the clothing but its stylish décor. Its loft-like interior glows with blue and purple lights, all of which accent the white faux leather furniture, giving it a serene Suburban feel.

The dance floor sits right in the middle of the first level, with the main bar on one side and elevated white booths for bottle service/private parties on the other.

The second level is a lounge area with more seating, two bars on each side of the room and a large open space in the middle of the room which overlooks the dance floor below.

This stylish pad located in Chicago's west loop was formerly known as The Generator and Rive Gauche until finally opening its doors on November of last year as Mannequin.

Mannequin brought something different to the Chicago club scene; it brought Latino Nights on Thursdays.

Isias says, "When I came on board it was my idea to bring a good Latin night here. Its really rare for a club to open up and do a Latin night right away it usually takes a year or two but I wanted to bring a different element to the nightclub, even in the music, we're the only club that plays a lot of electro music which is something you don't hear that much in the Latino market."

Mannequin is just not any club it's a club with an upscale personnel.

Isias adds, "In the Latino market you don't see bottle service, no one's offering that to them and I think someone has to offer that to them. We have a VIP service where anyone can come sit back and feel at home. The Latino market in Chicago is ready for a club like this."

Mannequin also offers table reservations and bottle service through their website, so you don't have to wait in line.

In the near future you can expect Mannequin to bring Reggaeton acts and Salsa bands as well as some fashion shows.

This hot new dance club and lounge is out to become Chicago's must-stop spot for a fashionable clubbing atmosphere!