From Haunting to Healing: The Spiritual Cleansing of Chicago's Historic Restaurant

Have you ever felt a presence beside you when you knew—without question—that you were NOT alone? Have you noticed a string of strange “accidents” that always seem to happen in the same space, as if the walls themselves were alive and aware? Lights flicker. Doors sigh. The air thickens with energy that feels… occupied.

So let’s talk about The Berghoff—Chicago’s oldest downtown restaurant—and the souls that once lingered there long after the dinner rush had ended.

The Call

One evening, I received an urgent call from a colleague. She had an astrology client who was convinced her family restaurant was haunted. She was even considering asking a priest to perform an exorcism.

This client was the third-generation owner of the historic Berghoff, built in 1898, a true Chicago institution. She had grown up within its walls, her grandmother always referring to the original section as “the haunted side.” Trays would drop. Beer would spill. Customers would ask to be moved to other tables.

In her words:

“I’m a businesswoman. I want my seats back. It’s hard to make a profit when you can’t use half your tables.”

My colleague wondered if I could help. I wasn’t sure. I’d never “cleared” a place quite like that before, and I wasn’t certain I could transmute whatever energies—or entities—might be lingering there. Still, I’ve made a personal vow to use my gift for the betterment of people—to bring peace to the living and the departed. So, I agreed.

Preparing the Ritual

We spoke by phone to plan the details. I gave clear instructions:

“Do exactly what I tell you. No questions. Bring a wide white candle and a lighter.”

We arranged to meet the next morning—Sunday, 6 a.m.—a time when downtown Chicago would be quiet, still, and sacredly private. When we arrived, the owner unlocked the front door. I positioned her directly across the street, standing in front of the entrance, candle in hand—her task: to hold the light.

Once she lit the candle, I stepped inside.

The Dining Room of Spirits

To my awe and curiosity, it was as if a silvery mesh veil shimmered before me. Through it, I saw the restaurant alive with energy—beautifully dressed ladies and gentlemen seated at tables, conversing softly. Their gowns and waistcoats were from another century—the late 1800s. They looked over at me, curious but calm, then returned to their conversations. I could see them clearly—yet also see through them to the empty chairs beneath. Yes, there were spirits—souls without bodies—still “living” within this 350-seat restaurant. A haunting revelation indeed.

The Historical Connection

Later, as I reflected on what I had witnessed, the timeline struck me: The Berghoff opened its doors in 1898. Just five years later, in 1903, Chicago was devastated by the Iroquois Theatre fire, one of the deadliest blazes in American history. Over 600 souls were lost that winter night, many just steps away from the theater district—mere blocks from The Berghoff.

As I stood in that dining room, surrounded by elegant spirits dressed in late-1800s finery, it came to me with a shiver of recognition: Perhaps these were among the souls who had “raced” from the burning theater, instinctively seeking the place they intended to go after the show—The Berghoff, their favorite gathering spot.

They never made it there in life. But perhaps, in spirit, they arrived at last.

The First Release

I raised my hands toward the east side of the dining room and spoke words of reverence:

“I see you. I honor you. I release you.”

But instead of the expected rush of release, I heard a voice whisper back:

“No. Go in the alley.”

I stepped outside, retrieved the owner, and asked her to lead me to the alley behind the restaurant. She would hold the candle there while I followed the energy.

The Alley of Anguish

The moment we turned the corner, I felt it—a wave of anguish and terror that struck through my entire body. I stopped, asked her to relight the candle, and stood in the center of the alley.

There, I saw it: An image of a man being thrown from a third—or maybe fourth—floor window, over and over again. The screams were chilling, echoing through time. I raised my hands, flooding the air with healing energy, and repeated:

“I see you. I honor you. I release you.”

A surge of cold, white light rose through me from the soles of my feet to the crown of my head. And just like that—peace. That soul was free.

The Great Release

Filled with purpose, I returned to the front of the restaurant. The owner once again stood across the street, candle glowing. I re-entered the dining room and beheld the spirits one last time—forty-two souls in total, dressed in glorious vintage attire.

With reverence, I spoke the same words once more:

“I see you. I honor you. I release you.”

And in rapid succession—pouf, pouf, pouf—the room felt lighter, brighter, renewed. They were gone. Free.

🌿 From Haunting to Healing

What if every haunting is just a call to healing? Not a punishment, not a curse—but an invitation. When we clear the energy of a place, we don’t banish ghosts—we listen to them. We acknowledge the stories that never had an ending, and with compassion, we help them find one.

The Berghoff’s third-generation owner knew this instinctively. Her brilliance wasn’t only in preserving the legacy of a historic restaurant—it was in recognizing that something unseen was taking up space, and having the courage to face it. She didn’t turn away in fear; she turned toward understanding. That willingness to see beyond the physical is the very essence of transformation.

The Berghoff’s dining room is full again—not of shadows, but of laughter, light, and delicious food. And it reminds me that we all have rooms within us waiting to be cleared—corners where old pain lingers, asking only to be seen, honored, and released.

So I’ll ask you again: What energy still haunts your space? And are you ready to let it go?

✨ About the Author

Susan Curry of InteriorWerx is an intuitive coach who uses all forms of haunting details to uncover and heal the root causes of imbalance—whether in a person, place, or story. Through her work, she transforms energetic mysteries into moments of profound clarity and peace.

Schedule a session with Susan Curry here.

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