The original Chicago location of Wax Trax! Records has officially been granted protected landmark status. Located at 2449 N. Lincoln Ave. in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, the site is now recognized as a historic part of the city’s music and cultural legacy.
The designation was approved by the Chicago City Council’s Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards committee on Wednesday, May 21. According to CBS News, the new status “protects all exterior elevations of the building.”
A Special Date for the Wax Trax! Community
The news was met with emotional responses from the Wax Trax! team and its supporters. In a Facebook post, the team highlighted a meaningful coincidence: the designation was approved on what would have been co-founder Dannie Flesher’s birthday.
“We could not have done this without all the amazing support and input from fans and people who cared to preserve this piece of music history,” the statement read. “We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.”
From Denver to Chicago: A Pioneering Label Is Born
Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher first opened Wax Trax! in Denver in 1975. They moved operations to Chicago in 1978, where the store quickly became a hub for punk, industrial, and underground music scenes. The Wax Trax! label officially launched in 1981, with its first release by local punk band Strike Under.
After relocating the store to Wicker Park in 1993, Wax Trax! eventually closed its doors in 1996, following Nash’s death the year before.
Revival and Preservation Efforts Led by Nash’s Family
In 2014, the Wax Trax! label was revived by Jim Nash’s daughter, Julia Nash, and her husband, Mark Skillicorn. The couple has also played a leading role in pushing for the protection of the original Chicago storefront.
In a February Instagram post during the designation campaign, the Wax Trax! team emphasized the importance of the effort:
“The building is now queued to be protected and flagged by the city if current or future owners try to demolish or change the structure in any way… We want to thank every person who has signed our petition…sent in personal testimonials…shared our cause, as well as the people who took the time to join us at the past three meetings.”
Part of a Broader Movement to Preserve Music History
This recognition follows a similar landmark designation in June 2023 for the former site of Chicago’s legendary club, The Warehouse, another historic step in protecting the city’s musical heritage.