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Kermess receives food and liquor licenses in Chicago's Theatre District

Kermess receives food and liquor licenses in Chicago's Theatre District

Built World Chicago, IL local

Kermess holds three city licenses for its 300-seat Spiegeltent venue, which opened October 15 in Chicago's Theatre District

October 15th, 2026: Premonitions Inc. premieres at Kermess

Overview

Updated Oct 16

Kermess opened Premonitions Inc. on October 15, ten days after Chicago issued its food and liquor licenses and one day after its public amusement license. The 300-seat venue occupies a century-old Belgian Spiegeltent on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop.

The 90-minute, 21-and-over show stars Sabrina Von B as Miss Fortuna and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday performances at 1 p.m. and some 5:30 p.m. shows, through January 15, 2027. Tickets run $89 to $149, and food and drinks are sold separately. The Chicago Reader's Kimzyn Campbell called it a "burlesque-style sexy circus show" that blends sensual acts with comedy.

Why it matters

The licenses let Kermess serve food and drinks during its cabaret and circus performances in Chicago's Theatre District.

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Key Indicators

3
City licenses issued
Public amusement, food service and liquor licenses for Kermess at 32 W Randolph St.
300
Spiegeltent seat capacity
Kermess's immersive venue seats 300 guests.
3
Inspection rounds
Two failed inspections before a pass with conditions on September 21.

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People Involved

SB
Sabrina Von B
Performer in Premonitions Inc., playing Miss Fortuna
Opened as Miss Fortuna in Premonitions Inc. at Kermess on October 15; performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. through January 15, 2027
CM
Charlie Maréchal
Co-founder of Circensia Entertainment Group and creator of 'Premonitions Inc.'
Co-directed 'Premonitions Inc.' with Nicolas Allard; the show opened at Kermess October 15
NA
Nicolas Allard
Co-founder of Circensia Entertainment Group and Director of Operations at Kermess
Co-directed 'Premonitions Inc.' with Charlie Maréchal; the show opened at Kermess October 15

Organizations Involved

Circensia Entertainment Group
Circensia Entertainment Group
Entertainment company
Creator and operator of Kermess

Entertainment company that built Kermess, the immersive dining and entertainment venue at 32 W Randolph St in Chicago.
Kermess
Kermess
Entertainment venue
Holds public amusement, food and liquor licenses; opened Premonitions Inc. October 15, 2026

Immersive dining and entertainment venue in Chicago's Loop Theatre District, built around a century-old Belgian Spiegeltent on Floor 14 of the Cambria Hotel.
Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop
Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop
Hotel
Host venue for Kermess

22-story, 199-room hotel at 32 W Randolph St in Chicago's Theatre District, franchised by Choice Hotels International.

Timeline

August 2026 October 2026

6 events Latest: October 15th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Premonitions Inc. premieres at Kermess

    Latest Event

    The dinner-theater comedy opened as scheduled, combining cabaret and circus acts in a 21-and-over show that runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. through January 15, 2027.

  2. Public amusement license issued

    Licensing

    Chicago issues Kermess a public place of amusement license for 32 W Randolph St, floors 13 and 14, the permit that allows a venue to charge for entertainment.

  3. Food and liquor licenses issued

    Licensing

    City issues Kermess food service and liquor licenses for 32 W Randolph St.

  4. License re-inspection passes with conditions

    Inspection

    City re-inspection passes with conditions, allowing license issuance to proceed.

  5. Second license inspection fails

    Inspection

    Re-inspection of Kermess license applications fails again.

  6. First license inspection fails

    Inspection

    City inspection of Kermess food and liquor license applications fails.

Scenarios

1

Kermess debuts Premonitions Inc. as scheduled

Deadline passed (Oct 16, 2026)

Discussed by: Choose Chicago event listings and venue announcements

The dinner-theater comedy premiered October 15 as planned, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. through January 15, 2027. The venue serves food and cocktails during shows.

2

Kermess faces license suspension over conditions

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection records

The conditions attached to the September 21 pass lead to a follow-up inspection that finds violations, resulting in a license suspension or revocation. The venue would need to halt food and liquor service.

3

Kermess extends Premonitions Inc. or announces new programming

Possible Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: Venue announcements and Chicago theatre listings

The initial show run is successful, leading the venue to extend performances beyond January 15 or announce a new production. This would signal the venue is establishing itself as a permanent Theatre District attraction.

4

Kermess debuts a second, family-friendly holiday show

Possible Resolves by Dec 1, 2026

Discussed by: Charlie Maréchal, Circensia co-founder, in Block Club Chicago

Maréchal said in early September that Kermess aims to open a second, more family-friendly holiday show in November, running through early January. If it materializes, it would broaden the venue beyond the 21+ Premonitions Inc. and help establish Kermess as a year-round Theatre District attraction.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

Early 20th century

Spiegeltent tradition (early 20th century)

Belgian traveling mirror tents, or Spiegeltenten, have hosted cabaret and circus performances across Europe for over a century. These ornate wooden structures with mirrored interiors were designed to be dismantled and moved between fairs.

Then

Spiegeltenten became popular attractions at European fairs and festivals, offering intimate cabaret and variety shows.

Now

A handful of century-old Spiegeltenten survive today, prized for their craftsmanship and atmosphere. Kermess's venue is built around one of these historic tents.

Why this matters now

Kermess's centerpiece is a century-old Belgian Spiegeltent, connecting the Chicago venue to a long European tradition of traveling entertainment.

March 2011

Sleep No More (2011)

Punchdrunk's immersive theater production opened in New York in 2011, letting audiences wander through a multi-floor set while performers acted out Macbeth. The show ran for over a decade and became a cultural phenomenon.

Then

Sleep No More drew huge audiences and critical acclaim, popularizing immersive theater in the U.S.

Now

The show helped spawn a wave of immersive dining and entertainment experiences across major cities, including Kermess's format of performances unfolding around seated guests.

Why this matters now

Kermess's immersive format, where guests sit at tables while performances unfold around them, follows in the tradition of audience-immersive entertainment that Sleep No More helped popularize.

October 2017

Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop opening (2017)

The 22-story building at 32 W Randolph St, originally constructed in 1927, was converted into the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop. The adaptive reuse project was the Cambria brand's first such design.

Then

The hotel opened with 199 rooms, event spaces, and a restaurant, becoming part of the Theatre District's hospitality landscape.

Now

The building now hosts Kermess, adding a new entertainment layer to the historic structure.

Why this matters now

Kermess operates within a building with a century of history, adapted over time from its 1927 origins to a modern hotel and now an immersive entertainment venue.

Sources

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City of Chicago Data Portal Cambria Hotels Chicago Plays Choose Chicago Crescent Hotels & Resorts Kermess Block Club Chicago BroadwayWorld Transparent.city Chicago Reader BizPulse Circensia Entertainment Group Kermess Kermess Kermess