Catalyst Ranch in Chicago, IL

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Telephone:	+1 312-207-1710
Website:	www.catalystranchevents.com
Address:	656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661 at Desplaines St Near West Side, West Loop
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	220 ftDesplaines & Lake 670 ftHalsted & Randolph 670 ftJefferson & Lake
Categories:	Venues & Event Spaces Wedding Planning Party & Event Planning

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Accepts Credit Cards

Yes

Wheelchair Accessible

Yes

Today

Today	7:00 am – 1:00 am Open now
Local time (Chicago)	09:57 Friday, 18 July 2025

Business hours

Monday	7:00 am – 1:00 am
Tuesday	7:00 am – 1:00 am
Wednesday	7:00 am – 1:00 am
Thursday	7:00 am – 1:00 am
Friday	7:00 am – 1:00 am
Saturday	7:00 am – 1:00 am
Sunday	7:00 am – 1:00 am

Description

Specialties

Are you the less traditional type of person? Then, we’re the perfect unique venue for your next special event, whether it’s a wedding, commitment ceremony, civil union, bridal shower, baby shower, anniversary party, fundraiser, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, quinceanera, holiday party, or anything else that screams out for a celebration. Think fun, private, funky and cool.

Everything is already here to delight your guests in our spacious historic loft. From comfy couches, vintage tables and chairs for dining, ethnic art all around to enchant the senses to our on site vintage photobooth. With all the colors and artwork, there’s no need to form a decorating committee.

And the best part is you don’t have to do it alone!

Our Gala Girl is here to guide you all the way, whether it’s introducing you to some top notch caterers, great vendors, pointing you to the vintage photo booth or figuring out the perfect layout for the room.

Give us a call — Prime 2015 Saturday dates are STILL available!

History

Established in 2002.

The idea for Catalyst Ranch was born on a quiet, sunny day in early June, 2002. Eva Niewiadomski did her typical morning routine, hopped on the subway downtown and by 8am was hard at work at her job at Quaker Oats. The division had just gone through a restructuring and what Eva thought was a meeting with her boss to talk about new priorities and projects actually turned out to be a discussion about her impending layoff at the end of July, 2002. Thankfully, Eva had been thinking about what she’d want to do after leaving Quaker and the idea of Catalyst Ranch crystallized that very same evening. The idea came to fruition at the beginning of November, 2002 with the hosting of the first meeting, booked sight unseen by the client. The small crew of volunteers stayed up all night putting on the finishing touches and the last pane of glass for the French doors slid into place at 5:30am. The 1^st client arrived at 7am.

Visit our website for the complete historical details. It’s quite a story.

Meet the Manager

Lauren S.

Manager

Branson Babe, Gala Girl, Client Services Manager

Motto: There is no substitute for good manners, except maybe fast reflexes.

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20 reviews of Catalyst Ranch

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Paul F.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

We cannot praise the Catalyst Ranch too highly! From the eclectic, colorful décor, to the enthusiastic, accommodating staff, this is the place to host your event. We had our wedding reception here with many moving parts, and they handled it with grace and style. All of our guests raved about the venue; we are so glad we chose this fantastic space!

Darci S.

Place rating: 5
Buffalo Grove, IL

I attended a staff retreat at this venue and it was super cool! Eclectic, kitschy, unique, colorful decorations and furniture abound. The casual seating groupings in the meeting rooms make it way more comfy and relaxed than a typical meeting space. The catering was amazing — unique menus and really good for food made in bulk and kept warm until lunch. They keep you supplied with all the snacks, drinks, office supplies and creative tools you need to have a productive meeting. Plus, the staff was really friendly and helpful! I’d highly recommend it!

M S.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

Just had a work PD there and cannot say enough good things about the place. The staff was warm, friendly, and on top of their game. Food spread was amazing, room layout/set up was cute and appropriate. I would definitely recommend this place for any work function. I wish I could individually list the staff because they were all on point. Everyone with my establishment was impressed and will hopefully be reviewing as well! Way to go Catalyst Ranch… hopefully I’ll be there again.

Elizabeth P.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

I was looking for an event space to celebrate my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and Catalyst Ranch was perfect! It is bright and colorful and happy and just gives off a wonderful vibe. It is unconventional and so different from any other venue we looked at. the staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful. They have relationships with all the vendors that you need which makes planning a party there very easy and they are all a pleasure to work with as well. It is such an interesting space with so many things to look at and a great color palate, you don’t really need to decorate at all. We used the Polka and adjacent Tango rooms which worked out great for having quieter areas for talking, enough space for eating and plenty of room for dancing. We loved our party there and it worked out perfectly It’s an original!

Taylor C.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

What an awesomely beautiful and creative space! I came here for an offsite brainstorming session with a small team and it was the perfect location and just the right amount of space. It really is like an adult playground to get the creative juices flowing. Staff was also nice and helpful, and made sure everything was taken care of before we arrived. I will be returning here for any small or large group gathering in the near future.

Mitty C.

Place rating: 5
Fremont, CA

Wow. Words cannot describe the awesomeness and creativity of this venue.
I was here for a two day Rotary summit, and the best way I can think of explaining this place is that it’s a brainstorming playground for the creative adult. Think adult preschool environment. Awesome colors. Great, historic décor.
Everything about this place is just great. I would definitely recommend it for team building sessions, private events, and even meetings. It’s a great place to stretch your mind and imagination.
Cheers
P. S. Make sure to buzz yourself in (sign on the window) with the code if the door outside is locked.

Sonya A.

Place rating: 4
Indianapolis, IN

Very cool space. Takes people out of their stuffy comfort zones and opens up their minds. I was here for a workshop during a conference. The CR staff lead a few getting to know each other activities that at first make you groan but ultimately we all enjoyed. Great location for off site meetings and putting people at ease.
Food: ⁴⁄₅ — We had heavy hors d’oeuvres. Very good
Service: ⁴⁄₅
Location: ⁴⁄₅

Hollina U.

Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL

Came here for an off-site meeting on Thursday with 16 of my colleagues. My boss recommended this place because they held the previous off-site here too. I looked up pictures of the place was like eww that looks really campy, can we please do it somewhere else? Welllll I was too busy to look up other venues, and my bad habit of always wanting to switch things up at work events backfired on me at the last all-staff when I picked an extremely narrow room to show a presentation for 90 people— so I took my boss’ suggestion this time and booked the Mambo Room.
And it was great! This place is homey, bright, colorful, comfortable, and everybody is soooo nice— greeted with smiles and helpfulness. I also have to say I love the bathrooms. I felt like a grown-up kid— the bathroom stall doors are wooden and have huge handles, there are magazines and night dresses hanging on the walls, painted flowers, and just happiness and fun all scattered through out the bathroom. Plus I love that they have everything a girl would ever need in the bathrooms— how thoughtful!
Erin started off the morning with a «Focus Energizer» to get us started— played a «Yee-haw, Hay barn, Hoedown» activity, which got a lot of laughs from everybody, as we all let our silly sides come out. Loved the energy!
My president started a bit with a history of Catalyst Ranch— how the founder was an accountant who thought outside the box and wanted to open a rental venue space, and make it a place that feels like Grandma’s home— with the eccentric decorations, comfy furniture, and welcoming feel. He definitely did a better job of talking about it than I just did. All the supplies are included in the room cost– projector, screen, laptop speakers, easels, marketing, dry erase boards— and a snack basket in the morning and afternoon snack basket.
I ordered the beef tenderloin and stuffed ricotta shells for lunch– which everybody loved. I was eyeing the beef tenderloin and warily took a piece, as I thought it would be dry– but it wasn’t! A lot of coworkers came up to me later, thanking me for again picking a menu that was satisfying to their stomachs. The Caesar salad and porcini risotto also received kudos from my coworkers— I honestly thought the risotto was a bit dry, but hey, as long as someone else liked it, whatever.
For the Great Big Dessert, they prepared a HUGE mixing bowl filled with tiramisu. My eyes practically bulged out of my sockets with anticipation and excitement. There was a lot more cream than ladyfingers, which isn’t the proportion that I favor, but it’s okay because I just took two extra large servings and picked at all the ladyfingers— and there was still tons of tiramisu left over. The M & M cookies were super good too— they def didn’t skimp on the M & Ms in those cookies— very appreciated.
Overall, this was a great creative space that the team loved. Just a tip— there’s candy all over the place— very dangerous and temping!

Stacy O.

Place rating: 5
Gurnee, IL

We brought our staff team here for a staff retreat, hoping a change of scenery would increase their engagement and creativity. Boy howdy, did it ever.
The staff was excellent. We were greeted warmly by everyone we encountered throughout the day. Our day started with an energizer led by a Catalyst Ranch staff member, which got us up and moving. The site serves continental breakfast and snacks throughout the day, which was a nice chance for staff to get up and mingle periodically. There was coffee, tea, and a stocked beverage fridge in the meeting space.
The décor is hilarious and interactive — my theory is that every staff member gets a thrifting allowance each month. There were dress-up clothes, hats, arts and crafts supplies, toys, quirky art…
I would absolutely come back here again and am coming up with reasons to do so.

Kelly A.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

I came here recently for a strategic workshop for work and I thought the space was awesome! Unlike a lot of spaces I’ve been in for offsite meetings, this one has a lot of personality and a great casual vibe that was perfect for our session. I think the vibe definitely put everyone at ease and made people more comfortable than we would have been in a sterile conference room. I especially love that they have fun things around the room to help break up the day, i.e. playdough and pipe cleaners on the table, a box of wigs and hats, etc. The staff also did a great job taking care of us. We were very well fed and they did a nice job of circulating to collect dirty dishes and cups, make sure we had everything we needed, etc. If a colleague was looking for some place to have an offsite meeting I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this place.

Kate K.

Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA

I had no idea this place existed in the West Loop but its actually huge inside. The décor is all over the place, so it’s actually a very good conversation starter. The rooms are expansive, colorfully painted, and have interesting/strange objects hanging everywhere. Several very cool seating sections too with floor pillows, different types of furniture, etc. it would be good for a creative event.

Green T.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

Interesting décor, kind staff, and reliable wifi. Thumbs up for the lower and smaller-sized chairs. Not every American is huge.

Crystal R.

Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL

The whole team at Catalyst Ranch made for a stress-free wedding planning process. The decorations speak for themselves and make a bride not have to decorate all that much besides flowers. All of our guests were pleasantly surprised by how unique our wedding was. Everything especially let loose with the built-in photobooth where they could really show their true colors with the wigs, hats, and other costumes. I would recommend this place for couples who want a unique experience that reflects their quirky personalities. This place is also perfect for smaller weddings since the Polka room fits around 115 people for dinner comfortably. The cozy environment allows guests to really mix and mingle rather than segregate like they do sometimes in big ballroom weddings. Thank you all for making this experience perfect for us.

Nancy L.

Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL

Catalyst Ranch is my absolute favorite place to have meetings and ideations — especially if you are looking for an eclectic high energy vibe.
As a professional facilitator and innovation consultant, I’ve found their staff understand what it takes to build an atmosphere that cultivates creative thinking. They make sure all the supplies you need are handy so you don’t need to drag everything to the facility.
Main downside is that the wall space isn’t conducive to posting a lot of things on the wall (e.g. brick walls and cluttered with items. They make up with some movable white boards and flip charts. Also not a ton of light in some of the rooms but the energy is still great with the vintage and global artifacts in the room. If you want a zen relaxing vibe then you may want to look elsewhere. Catalyst ranch is very stimulating which I love for ideations and stretching thinking.
If you just want a cool place to hold a business meeting they are good for that too. If need an icebreaker in the morning or an energizer in the afternoon and don’t want to do it yourself you can ask their staff to lead a quick activity.
Food is always awesome and they accommodate special requests like vegans and allergies. The staff is top notch — always on hand to meet your needs (e.g. copies, cabs, move furniture, get food, etc.)
I know some folks feel Catalyst is expensive but for what you get it’s a good value — I don’t have to worry if something comes up they’ll have things on hand to deal with it and won’t nickel and dime me for every flip chart page or board I use. (AV needs, etc.)

Matthew F.

Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL

As part of my consulting company, I’ve facilitated several product inventing & innovation sessions at Catalyst Ranch. It’s hands-down the best such facility in Chicago, possibly in the country.
The rooms are well-designed to get you as far removed from your sterile office environment as possible. You can get your hands on anything you might need to run a successful meeting, and the SiriusXM radio in the room is a nice touch. You also won’t be wanting for food, and the catered breakfast and lunch is never less than very good.
But what really puts Catalyst over the top is the staff. Before your meeting, they’re easy to work with; during the meeting, the Ranch Hands are unfailingly courteous, positive and smiling, and their response to almost any request you throw at them will be along the lines of, «Yes we can» or «We’ll find a way.» Really just a terrific crew.
It can be a little pricey relative to other locations, but once everything is factored in, it’s well worth it. I’m more than comfortable giving them my continued business.

Ken D.

Place rating: 5
Miami, FL

I just had a chance to facilitate a 3-day Global Steering Committee meeting for a client at Catalyst Ranch, and loved the impact it had. Picture the inside of Jeannie’s ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ bottle mixed with the apartment of that art school friend you had in your early 20’s, and you get the vibe. It is at once distracting and arresting, and yet perfectly suited to taking business people out of their own stuff and into a world of possibility.
The staff (love ‘em), setting, service, gizmos, toys, art, etc. were all perfectly madcap.
My two suggestions to make it even better:
1. Create within the psychedelic space a sterile room, more akin to the normal company conference room. Why? Well, to test an audience on their ability to transfer the creative ideas gained at Catalyst Ranch into practical action back at the less-creative, cube-infested ranch. To truly move into change, the brain needs the ability to visualize itself in a future state. The surroundings of Catalyst Ranch, while perfect to inspire divergent thinking, are not in any way, shape or form like corporate America. We need a room dedicated to the task of business-oriented contextualization.
2. Do something about the painfully slow elevators. If they can’t be sped up, then use the long wait time to your advantage. Give us, as we’re waiting, some task, provocation, or creative outlet. Gosh, Catalyst Ranch, if you have filing you need done, we have the time to do it for you while we’re waiting. Help us not notice the long wait by provoking our thinking or learning as the elevators take their arduous trip to meet us.
I will look forward to my next opportunity to be back at the Ranch. In the meantime, I will enjoy the colorful surroundings of my own home office, grateful that I do not have to spend time in putty-colored Corporate America.

Johnny T.

Place rating: 5
Nashville, TN

So, I didn’t attend the Elite party at Catalyst Ranch. I saw the pictures. I heard the stories. But, I didn’t ‘get’ it until I saw it for myself.
Incredible.
It’s as though someone reached into my subconscious, realized that nothing made sense and proceeded to create an event space out of the chaos. I love it. I love the fact that little matches, yet everything goes together perfectly. I love the fact that, in a matter of steps, you can walk through three or four fantasy-scapes. I love the fact that, in describing the space, you can use the word ‘whimsical’ and have it not be ironic. I love the fact that there’s a CHAISE LOUNGE! If I were a super hero (and who’s to say that I am not; the power of super-bitchery is awesome), this would totally be my headquarters. Though, I wouldn’t leave to fight crime. I’d just make the junior members fetch me some blueberry tea while I lounged and listed to Norah Jones.
Yes, I said blueberry tea. In addition to having a meeting space that would give Tim Burton and Johnny Depp the vapors, the food here is quite satisfactory. Imagine breakfast with assorted bagels, cream cheese, banana bread, cereal, fresh fruit, coffee, AND BLUEBERRY TEA! I didn’t have lunch here but I had a post lunch ‘snack’ of popcorn, cookies, brownies, and those flat chocolate things with the small white balls (like sugary roe) on top. You know what I am talking about? Those? Each time I went to get more, there was more. It was the Prometheus of sugary baked goods!
I look forward to the day when I can return to Catalyst Ranch for more meetings, food, fun, and daydreaming.

Colleen C.

Place rating: 5
London, United Kingdom

I’ve been scheming to get back to Catalyst Ranch for over a year…
Most definitely, its a beautiful event space (funky wedding? Do it!)…but they also specialize in funky meetings as well! Situated in Haymarket Square (on Randolph between Halsted and Jefferson).
Finally, I was challenged with organizing a meeting for a select bunch of my fantastic colleagues, and DING, ding, DING… Catalyst Ranch was my first thought!
A beautiful, creative space perfectly equipped and outfitted for corporate (or not-so-corporate) meetings. Bright colors, ample elbow room, lovely facilities, efficient and friendly staff… and above all, a space that makes the brain go aflutter with new ideas and positive vibrations.
The care and detail exercised in the interior is truly magnificent. Meticulously restored vintage furniture, bright paint, beautiful fixtures, fun little alcoves… nothing overlooked. It’s all simply bright, shiny and stimulating. My favorite? Well, we were stationed in the Jitterbug (4^th floor) and in the bathroom were painstakingly pressed old nighties, for a fabulous restroom experience… see, told ya, nothing overlooked. Not even the loo.
Upon entering, our tables/chairs were all set up… including two flipcharts + markers for brainstorming and a projector for presentations. Every detail attended to… which made me look smart, which of course… I like.
They offer catering, which must be ordered the week before the meeting, I suggest doing the continental breakfast which runs $ 16.50pp, but you won’t have to worry about it. Also, the room rental includes two snacks and beverages (ice cold water, tea, coffee, sodas, juices).
A few notes:
*They are eco-friendly, and frown upon plastic water bottles.
*No outside food.
*Metered parking is available, though costly. Finding a lot is preferable.
An absolutely wonderful meeting, a perfect space to motivate and enjoy. I highly suggest for private events, brainstorming sessions, corporate off-sites, etc. My crew was very happy, and thus… I am happy!

Andrea R.

Place rating: 5
Glencoe, IL

I knew this was the ideal place for a bash, but turns out it’s even cooler for a meeting. I joined 15+ colleagues for a day of learning, bonding and eating! The atmosphere is so fun (love all the toys & candy) that it really gets those creative juices flowing.
You also don’t need to worry about going hungry at Catalyst Ranch. They kept our tummies full with an impressive spread during breakfast and afternoon snack time. Lunch was an option too, but we opted to head to one of the restaurants on Randolph instead.
The peeps who work here happen to be total sweethearts and are beyond organized. It can be a bit pricier than some other meeting spaces in Chicago, but well worth it!

Gabi M.

Place rating: 4
Phoenix, AZ

Who knew an event venue could be a destination I could fall in love with? I certainly did not! But now, I’ve fallen in love with two venues. The second is Catalyst Ranch.
We held our final day of Regional CM Training at Catalyst Ranch last week, and it blew away my expectations. Not only is the facility colorful, comfortable, kitschy, and cool, but the staff that work there are awesome too. They provided us with the basics (tables, chairs, water, coffee, etc…) but in addition, we had our a/v needs taken care of, fun props to play with at the tables, a catered breakfast and snacks, plenty of restrooms, etc…
If you’re looking for a fun, unique venue to hold a meeting, a conference, or even a wedding, check out Catalyst Ranch. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering about «the first» venue I fell in love with, it’s the Intercontinental Montelucia in Paradise Valley, AZ… and that just happens to be where I got married! In this case, second best beats the rest!

Catalyst Ranch

Chicago, United States

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20 reviews of Catalyst Ranch