The Hand & The Eye: Chicago’s $50 Million Magic Theater Set to Dazzle the Magnificent Mile

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the city’s glittering stretch of Michigan Avenue, is about to get a touch of enchantment. In a bold $50 million venture, healthcare entrepreneur Glen Tullman is transforming the historic McCormick Mansion at 100 E. Ontario St. – formerly the home of Lawry’s Prime Rib – into The Hand & The Eye, a sprawling, 36,000-square-foot magic theater that is looking to change the shape of Chicago’s nightly entertainment. Slated to open in March 2026, this ambitious project is not just a new venue but a love letter to the art of illusion, blending world-class magic, upscale dining, and immersive design in a way that’s never been done before. For magic enthusiasts, theater lovers, and anyone seeking a night of wonder, The Hand & The Eye is poised to become a must-visit destination.

A Historic Mansion Reimagined

The McCormick Mansion, built in 1899 for L. Hamilton McCormick and his wife, Constance Plummer McCormick, is a four-story Italian Renaissance gem, constructed with bricks imported from Belgium and wrapped in straw for the journey. Over its storied history, the building has housed everything from a puppet theater to a members-only nightclub called the Continental Casino. Its fourth-floor ballroom once hosted up to 400 guests, including visiting royalty. Now, this architectural treasure is being gutted to its studs—save for the grand staircase, fireplace, and a few other historic elements—to make way for a modern marvel designed by David Rockwell, an acclaimed Broadway set and restaurant interior designer.

Rockwell’s vision for The Hand & The Eye is “hand-crafted,” with a focus on theatrical lighting, impeccable sightlines, and intimate audience experiences. His design integrates performance and hospitality spaces, creating a seamless flow between magic shows, dining, and socializing. The exterior of the mansion will remain untouched, preserving its historic charm, while the interior will feature seven distinct theaters ranging from 25 to 100 seats, multiple bars, a roof garden, and a retail space selling magic tricks with live instruction. The venue will operate from 5 p.m. to midnight, seven nights a week, with weekend brunches and daytime performances planned for family audiences.

A New Standard for Magic

The Hand & The Eye aims to elevate magic to an art form on par with theater or opera, offering an upscale, all-adult experience with a dress code that eschews jeans and sneakers. Unlike traditional magic shows, where audiences sit for a single performance, this venue will offer a single, all-inclusive ticket that guides patrons through a curated journey of performances across multiple stages, culminating in a dining experience. The price point hasn’t been announced, but given the $50 million investment and the involvement of high-profile partners like Levy Restaurants, it’s likely to be a premium experience aimed at tourists and locals seeking a special night out.

For Chicago residents and magic aficionados, The Hand & The Eye will also offer club memberships, granting access to a dedicated entrance and the ability to visit specific stages or bars at leisure. In a nod to the venue’s theme, members will be required to learn a magic trick—a playful touch that underscores the immersive nature of the experience. Think of it as a Soho House for illusion enthusiasts, where you might rub elbows with world-class magicians or catch a live jazz performance curated by the venue’s full-time music director.

Leading the magical charge is Jeff Kaylor, the “curator of magic,” who has relocated to Chicago to shape the venue’s vision. Kaylor envisions The Hand & The Eye as a global hub for magicians, blending resident performers with rotating “world-class” guest artists. The theaters are designed for versatility, accommodating everything from intimate close-up magic to medium-range illusions. Even the bars will double as stages, with bartenders trained in trickery to keep the magic flowing alongside the cocktails.

A Culinary and Cultural Experience

No upscale venue would be complete without exceptional dining, and The Hand & The Eye is partnering with Levy Restaurants, led by CEO Andy Lansing, a self-described “magic geek.” The culinary experience will evoke the retro glamour of Chicago’s legendary Pump Room, served in what Lansing calls “the most beautiful of dining rooms.” The menu is still under wraps, but the focus on integrating magic, dining, and design suggests a theatrical approach to food, where presentation might be as mesmerizing as the performances.

Beyond entertainment, The Hand & The Eye is committed to community engagement. Tullman plans to offer educational programs for young magicians from Chicago’s neighborhoods, fostering the next generation of illusionists. This blend of high-end hospitality and grassroots outreach reflects the venue’s ambition to be both a global destination and a local institution.

Chicago’s Magic Renaissance

The Hand & The Eye isn’t entering an empty field. Chicago already boasts a vibrant magic scene, with the Chicago Magic Lounge in Andersonville, Dennis Watkins’ long-running show at Petterino’s in the Loop, and the Rhapsody Theatre in Rogers Park. These venues have cultivated a loyal following, proving that Chicagoans have an appetite for prestidigitation. While The Hand & The Eye’s scale and ambition might pose competition, it could also elevate the city’s magic culture, drawing more attention to the art form and attracting visitors who might explore other venues during their stay.

Tullman sees his project as part of a broader reinvigoration of the Magnificent Mile, which has faced challenges in recent years. “I’m betting on the city,” he told the Chicago Tribune, emphasizing that he’s funding the venture solo, without partners. His confidence is infectious, and the involvement of heavyweights like Rockwell and Lansing suggests that The Hand & The Eye has the talent and vision to deliver on its lofty promises.

The Hand & The Eye: Comparisons and Ambitions

The closest analog to The Hand & The Eye is the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, a legendary private club for magicians and enthusiasts that opened in 1963. At 36,000 square feet, The Hand & The Eye will surpass the Magic Castle in size by about 10,000 square feet, and its focus on accessibility—through public tickets and open memberships—sets it apart from the Castle’s exclusive model. Tullman’s goal is to create a venue that amazes visitors from Iowa to Indiana, while Kaylor wants it to be a stage where every magician in the world aspires to perform.

David Rockwell’s involvement adds another layer of prestige. In a phone interview from Madrid, he described the project as a chance to do “something that had never been done,” blending theater’s human interactions with hospitality’s warmth. His obsession with lighting and sightlines ensures that every seat in every theater will feel like the best in the house, whether you’re watching a sleight-of-hand trick or a grand illusion.

The Hand & The Eye: Why It Matters

At a time when live entertainment is evolving, The Hand & The Eye represents a bold bet on the power of in-person experiences. Magic, with its ability to spark wonder and disbelief, is uniquely suited to this moment, offering an antidote to screen fatigue and digital overload.  You can’t AI magic.  By combining magic with world-class design, dining, and music, The Hand & The Eye is creating a multi-sensory experience that feels both timeless and cutting-edge.

For Chicago, the venue is a chance to reclaim the Magnificent Mile’s status as a cultural powerhouse. The McCormick Mansion’s transformation into a hub of illusion and elegance is a fitting next chapter for a building that has always been a stage for the extraordinary. And for magic fans, The Hand & The Eye has the possibility of turning Chicago into not just the Windy City, but the Magic City.

 

For more details, check out the original Chicago Tribune article here.

You can also sign up for more information at their website The Hand And The Eye