Event spacesDowners GroveUp to 100 guests
Founding member

The Lytle Auditorium

We offer a beautiful light-filled space with lots of natural greenery and large plants—the perfect place to celebrate and honor a loved one.

About this venue

About the business

The Lytle Auditorium has two different spaces—one for smaller memorials with 40 guests or less and one for larger memorials with a max of 100 guests. Our goal is always to help in any way we can to make sure you feel supported as a plan a celebration of life.

Origin story

The Lytle Auditorium was founded by Robyn and Michelle Lytle. They wanted to create an intimate gathering space that made it easy to plan a beautiful event. The venue is a historic Chicago property that the couple preserved and restored—it still features some original industrial architecture, but they have mixed the building's history with modern Chicago vibes.

Why families choose us

We are a small, family owned and family operated business. We are always your main point of contact as we plan the event together, and we are always onsite to help execute your vision for the event. We have been planning and hosting events for over 11 years, so our clients trust us with their vision.

Ownership

Family-ownedLGBTQ / queer-ownedWomen-owned

Meet the team

  • Robyn Lytle

    owner and event manager "There is nothing more meaningful or important to me than helping a family as they plan a memorial. I'm an empath through and through, and I want to be there to take care of everything event-related so that you can focus on what's important."

  • Michelle Lytle

    owner and event manager "After losing my brother in 2022, I experienced firsthand what it was like to try to plan a meaningful celebration of life while actively experiencing different stages of the grieving process. My goal is to help you honor your loved one in an authentic way while taking the major planning pieces out of your hands so that I can help you feel supported."

Who they serve

Religious tradition

BuddhistCatholicEastern OrthodoxHinduJewishMuslimProtestant / ChristianSecular / humanistSikh

Community served

Arab / Middle EasternAssyrianBlack / African AmericanChineseFilipinoGreekIndian / South AsianIrishItalianKoreanLGBTQ / queerLithuanianMexicanPolishPuerto RicanRomanianUkrainianVietnamese

What they offer

Also offers

Floral & decorative coordinationPhotographyEvent planning support / coordination

Spaces & pricing

Space

Capacity

Starting price

East Studio

Light and bright, with a 40-foot skylight, hanging plants and a lofty "greenhouse" feel

Max 40 for a seated or cocktail-style event

Contact for pricing, depends on the day of the week and hours needed

West Studio

A deep green room with lots of natural daylight, 16 ft tall ceilings and an industrial catwalk feature

Max 100 for a seated or cocktail-style event

Contact for pricing, depends on the day of the week and hours needed

Common questions

How many hours do you recommend for a memorial?

Usually we start with a 6 hour rental (2 hours for set up, 3 hour event, 1 hour clean up)

How do I honor my loved one in an authentic way?

Lean into all their favorites—serve their favorite food and drinks, have their favorite music playing, have guests bring their favorite photos or written memories to share, decorate the space with their favorite colors and items.

Service area

Address

4919 Belmont Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Location

4919 Belmont Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Get directions ↗