Chicago’s classical music scene is getting a serious upgrade, starting with a venue that could only happen here: a former 7-Eleven turned chamber concert hall. The CheckOut, the latest project from nonprofit Access Contemporary Music (ACM)—and the company's first brick-and-mortar location—opened mid-September at 4116 N. Clark Street in Lake View, and it's already shaking up what “classical” can look like.

Closed since 2018, the former 7-Eleven location presented a myriad of problems for ACM, from the usual (all that reno, plus landing a liquor license) to the specific (do you know how filthy abandoned 7-Elevens can be?). But now, the CheckOut is sparkling clean, with cheeky bods to its origins scattered throughout the space. Looking for a cocktail? Try one of the slushies (if the machines

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