The Katalyst Music Gallery

The Katalyst Music Gallery combines records with instruments, visual art, and creative programming. In this interview, the owner explains how the space became a music gallery and what is happening in its South Side community.

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Interview

What is The Katalyst Music Gallery like?

The Katalyst Coffee Lounge and Music Gallery has kind of changed to just The Katalyst Music Gallery. I dropped the Coffee Lounge part for now because I don't have a food license and coffee is allowed according to the city of Chicago. I still have coffee and my own coffee brand. I just don't sell prepared coffee. I preferred to call it a "Music Gallery" because the space is filled with a lot of instruments, photos, artwork, and novelties that I have acquired and been entrusted with through my various adventures in the music business and in the arts community. I periodically run exhibits on some of this material and the gallery also serves as a small performance space. Currently, the walls feature photos, posters, flyers, fine art prints, and original works from some of the various collections that have landed in my possession. Primarily, these are my personal collection but also include material from The Art Ensemble of Chicago archives as well as material from Bobby Sengstackes archives. The bins in the front are arranged alphabetically and include a good variety of popular music in all genres mixed together. They also feature a section for soundtracks and compilations as well as a section for new presses and premium rare records that have gone through a deep cleaning and anti-static process. Beyond the front bins are bins that are for staging duplicates and records that either haven't been priced or have migrated by the turntables to be played.

What should visitors explore around Hegewisch?

The southeast side is definitely off the beaten path. Even more removed from what's considered the typical Chicago experience is Hegewisch, which is the neighborhood where the store is located. It feels like a small town and historically, it has kind of behaved that way. While it sounds far, when people actually get there, they realize it doesn't take that long to get there. Once in the area, one feels transported to another time and place though. It doesn't feel crowded and hustling and bustling like a lot of areas in the city. It has a certain calm compared to highly trafficked areas and features a few independent small businesses. Not a place for chain restaurants. While it used to be known for having the most bars per capita in the world, there are only a few left but they serve the community well. The store sits on the flagship corner of the commercial corridor in an area in transition. Efforts are being made to revitalize the area but it does have a few local restaurants. Tacos and pizza seem to be well represented. There is also an ice cream shop, juice bar, hardware store, tattoo studio. Post office, Barber shop, and grocery store. Kind of feels like Mayberry. It feels a little more outdoorsy than the rest of the city. It is not far from Wolf Lake

Who comes to the gallery, and what happens there?

Being both a lounge and gallery means that people do indeed come for other things than just to buy records. In fact, it has become more of a place to hang out and listen to music. The crowd depends on the event and we have a rotation of various events:

Tuesdays are a jam session with a violinist. Every other Friday is a house music DJ set. I also have periodic performances and exhibits of various artists. Each of these events has their own regulars that come and enjoy the vibe. I do sell records here and there and I have a few regulars that come in to see what new arrivals I might have available but the main driver of the business is the space offering creative programs for different artists and their surrounding scenes.

What makes a collection worth a look?

I'm picky because I have a lot of records and running out of space. A lot of times, people are just getting rid of what they don't want and the albums are not in good shape. I do enjoy looking through them to see if there are any gems. A rare jazz record maybe on a smaller label that wasn't widely distributed or even classics in good shape. I recently was going to turn down some records but when I ended up looking through them, there were two Stevie Wonder records in better shape than the copies I have. There were also some jazz records that I didn't have. Some were not in the best shape, but I was able to clean them up and listen to them. Really nice stuff. Nina Simone Live, Yusuf Lateef and a few Coltrane albums in particular.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

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