CHICAGO _ As a North Carolina native and graduate of Winston-Salem State University, a historically black college, Platt, 29, immediately noticed the lack of opportunities and accessibility for black millennials in Chicago who wanted to dance and mingle in safe, nice environments.
"Chicago is so segregated that we're not fortunate enough to land opportunities to host our audience in (particular) venues," Platt said.
Platt used to host an after-work set at Graffiti Lounge with Pyramid. But, according to Platt, it had to leave the lounge because the crowd wasn't diverse enough for the club's management.
A man, who refused to be identified, responded to a Tribune call to Graffiti Lounge, saying Platt's claim was untrue. However, in a 2015 email correspondence, a Graffiti Lounge representative demanded a "mixed crowd" when discussing booking the club for a mixer.
Osuji, who hosted a few successful events at Graffiti Lounge with Civilized Empire, said the crowds were well-dressed, mostly black professionals _ but concurred that the relationship with Graffiti Lounge ended because they couldn't bring out a diverse enough crowd.
"I wish I could say that this is the first time that I heard these types of comments from a bar manager or owner, but these are regular occurrences as a black promoter looking to do business in the entertainment districts in Chicago," Osuji said. "Most of the time, the managers will ask to check your website or social media for pictures of your past events, and then you will no longer hear from them."
Teddy Gilmore shared similar experiences during the height of his restaurant-nightclub hybrid, Nouveau Tavern. After an ongoing battle with the City of Chicago and neighbors, Nouveau was deemed a public nuisance under the city's Drug and Gang House ordinance. The owner eventually closed its doors.
"With Nouveau, we never had a shooting. We never had a stabbing. No overdoses. No sexual assaults. Nothing like that," said Gilmore, who worked as the restaurant's marketing and promotional manager. "The people in the neighborhood saw a congregation of African-Americans, (which) had them so fearful that they would call 911."
Gilmore blames the media's reporting on crime and the stereotyping of African-Americans as troublemakers and gangbangers for the challenges black promoters face in hosting parties downtown.
Platt now partners with other party promoters and venues in the city to host Civilized Saturdays club parties and Soul Sessions live-music events at 15/20 Lounge in Chinatown. He also throws a happy hour Mid Month Mixer at M Lounge in the South Loop and occasional day parties, which have become a trend.
Though the options for black professional millennials are increasing, Platt said he still feels the city lacks daily after-work happy hours Monday through Thursday.
"It has improved since I first came out here," Platt said. "I do think there are a lot of promoters who are trying to put more positive, more professional, well-polished events together. Obviously, the frequency isn't as much as we'd appreciate, but I think the after-work life is slowly evolving."
Bay-area residents Warren Jones and Matt Tuffuor brought their California lifestyle brand, Toasted Life, to Chicago this spring with a party at Frontier bar in West Town.
The venue has a fireplace and two bars, and the Morehouse College graduates topped things off by adding marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers in the beer garden, so guests can make s'mores over the fire pit.
"We try to find unique experiences," said Jones. They returned to Chicago in May with a day party at Y Bar, which was so packed that bouncers stopped letting people in about an hour after the party began.
Jones and Tuffuor hosted their third Chicago event last weekend _ a day party at Reverie _ with their Chicago-based promoter friends.
"I think people just want more options. People are getting tired of the more traditional clubs," Tuffuor said. "We're starting with parties right now, but we also want to create different experiences for people."
"Whether it's literally doing volunteering events in Chicago or renting out a movie theater ... we definitely plan on bringing different experiences and trying to find other ways to bring the black professional community together," Tuffuor said.
