About Space 519
Our Story
Founded in 2010, SPACE 519 began as a unabashedly brick-and-mortar retail store tucked away atop a Magnificent Mile shopping center. Today we have evolved into a multi-location lifestyle destination. Shopping and Dining collide in our spaces. Our retail lineup features women’s designer clothing and accessories, fine jewelry, apothecary, inspired home goods and unique gift items. Our food concepts offer a wide array of options: from sit-down dining to gourmet grab and go.
SPACE 519 has been lauded by The New York Times, Vogue, WWD, Architectural Digest, InStyle and many more. The Lunchroom has been featured in Eater, Crain's Chicago Business and has won numerous diner's choice awards.
Our founders
Spouses Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel travel the world to curate an assortment of unique and hard to find items across a broad range of categories. Their true passion is bringing home the very best to their savvy Chicago clientele. Every item, from a Designer Dress in the Women's Salon to a Bag of Pasta in the Fancy Foods Shop, was chosen in tandem by the pair.
Wetzel, a Chicagoland native, has more than 30 years of hands-on retail sales and merchandising experience for brands from Gap to Gucci. He has worked for names like Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel,and J. Crew. Lawson, a native of Denver, Colorado, is an attorney. In New York, he worked for Court TV – transitioning from the law into marketing and has worked with brands such as The Olympics, American Express and the Walt Disney Company.
From 2004 to 2010, they conceptualized and ran Jake, a group of designer specialty stores in Chicago which was widely lauded as one of the nation’s most influential independent retailers. Lawson and Wetzel also concepted Madison Hall - the well loved retail component launched within the newly remodeled Chicago Athletic Association Hotel in 2016.
FAQ
Do your associates offer personal shopping services?
What is the return policy for retail purchases?
How can I make a reservation for dining at The Lunchroom and The Lago Room?
Are private events or catering services available at your locations?
What is the best way to be in the know?
Join us
Happenings
From intimate designer appearances to conversational panels with noted industry leaders we aspire to create community within our spaces. Shop our Holiday Bazaar, learn how to play mahjong, or sit back with one of the city’s most in-demand manicurists – we’d love to see you. Check in here for our latest offerings.
