Kingston Mines, 2548 N. Halsted St., is taking over the land south of the club and building an addition. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Mina Bloom

LINCOLN PARK — One of Chicago's most famous blues clubs is expanding, which means room for about 150 more people and added amenities like a new musician's room, renovated bathrooms and more.

Since opening in 1968, Kingston Mines has become a Chicago staple for bringing in world-famous blue artists like Joanna Connor, Mike Wheeler and Duke Tomato, to name a few. Over the years, celebrities like Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and David Bowie have all visited the club.

Now, the club is taking over the land directly south of the building for an approximately 3,000-square-foot addition, according to longtime owner Lenin "Doc" Pellegrino.

Crews have already torn down the building on that lot. All that's left to do is start construction on the new three-story structure, which will be topped by two apartments. Plans also include three new parking spaces in back.

A city permit was issued Wednesday for $350,000 worth of construction — a process Pellegrino expects to take about six months. Both the Wrightwood Neighbors Association and Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) have approved the plans.

The 91-year-old club owner said he's been waiting about 18 months to secure the permit, which is, in large part, meant to provide relief for people watching shows.

"We're very busy, so the extra space will be used," Pellegrino said from his home directly above the club Thursday afternoon.

Pellegrino is also building a new musician's room and bar in back, as well as renovating the bathrooms. The stages will remain the same size, he said.

What's most important to Pellegrino is that the club retains its flavor, which has been attracting blues fans from near and far for more than 40 years.

"It's a blues club," he said. "I want to keep it looking like a blues club."

Pellegrino's three daughters and two sons have all worked for the club for years, including Frank Pellegrino, who mostly handles the music side of the business.

Frank Pellegrino said keeping the music program strong is of the utmost importance to his family.

"As the room changes in size and shape, the acoustics will change," he said. "What won't change is the quality of the music."

Kingston Mines, 2548 N. Halsted St., is expanding at a time when other clubs — even ones down the street — are striving to stay relevant in the digital music age.

When asked what has allowed Kingston Mines to thrive to the point of expanding, Frank Pellegrino pointed to the $12 to $15 cover charge that has stayed the same for about 28 years.

"People who work for a living should be able to come out. They get to see an enormous amount of music for a very low price," he said, adding that most nights Kingston Mines offers about seven hours of live music.

He and his father both mentioned that focusing on one genre of music has made the club a destination for musicians and tourists alike.

Plus, there's never been a lack of talent in Chicago, which is known as the "blues capital of the world."

"The artist fountain in Chicago has always been overflowing with great talent," Frank Pellegrino said.

There's no final word on whether Kingston Mines will close during construction, but Frank Pellegrino said he doubts it. The club has stayed open during smaller renovations — all in the name of continuing to put on great shows, he said.

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