Even if you don’t have a reason to throw a party, you might want to cook one up. One peek inside Wild Carrot, a new event space at 3901 Shaw, will have you conjuring all kinds of plans.
Last June, Laura and Casey Bunch purchased the 7,500 square-foot building at the corner of Shaw and 39th Street in the Shaw neighborhood. The historic structure had seen better days as a former movie theater. “It was a bit of an eyesore,” says Laura. “The neighborhood was ready for a change.”
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Using old photographs, the couple revived the building with help from design-build firm UIC. Now, the interior consists of rough brick, exposed steel, and walls mottled with paint or plaster. At night, the space glows with flickering candles and vintage lights. Mid-century modern furniture is neatly situated in pockets for socializing. “I like to create vignettes or capsules,” says Bunch, whose resume includes organizing events and managing venues.
Named for Laura’s favorite flower, Daucus carota (a.k.a. Queen Anne’s Lace or wild carrot), the space can accommodate 400 for cocktail mixers or 250 for sit-down dinners. Wild Carrot provides the drinks, bar staff, security, and management; food is supplied by outside vendors, such as caterers or food trucks. Already, there are 40 weddings booked between now and next summer.
But the Bunches aren’t limiting the venue to weddings. “I think there’s a need in some cities for nontraditional, multi-use, creative spaces,” says Laura, who sees the venue serving as a hub for community gatherings: pop-up dinners, fashion shows, yoga classes, trivia nights (with one scheduled for this Saturday)…
“I’ve always loved people, fashion, art, decorating,” she says. “This feels like a fusion of all those things.”
