Berlin is one of Chicago’s most iconic and enduring underground clubs, known for its theatrical spirit, radical inclusivity, and refusal to play by mainstream rules.
Opened in 1983 in Lakeview, Berlin became a home for misfits, artists, club kids, drag performers, goths, queers, and anyone drawn to nightlife with imagination and edge. Theme nights, immersive performances, experimental music, and unapologetic self-expression defined the space. Costumes were encouraged, identity was fluid, and spectacle was part of the language.
Berlin mattered because it permitted people to be strange, bold, and fully themselves. It stood as a creative sanctuary in a city that has always valued grit and originality. This shirt honors a club that proved nightlife can be art, community, and rebellion all at once.
