Health‑care billionaire Glen Tullman is committing $50 million of personal capital to launch The Hand and the Eye, a 35,000‑square‑foot magic palace in downtown Chicago. The five‑floor venue will host 22 magicians, seven bars, two dining rooms and a wall that appears to pulse like a heart, aiming to seat up to 350 guests per night.

Renowned architect David Rockwell, whose résumé includes Union Square Café and Broadway set designs, gutted the late‑19th‑century McCormick mansion and rebuilt every detail for close‑up sleight‑of‑hand. Seating sightlines, glassware width and even color palettes of turquoise, emerald and crimson were calibrated to keep phones silent and eyes on the illusion.

The concept banks on a resurgence of live magic, fueled by social‑media stars and TV shows such as Penn & Teller. Tickets cost $225 for a three‑hour program that blends performances, cocktail service and a dress code that bans jeans and sneakers. Should demand fall short, Tullman admits the gamble could leave his fortune on the line.

Hospitality partner Levy Group will run the dining venues, offering “approachable sophistication” without a restaurant‑only option, while hospitality director Bre Smith focuses on the overall experience rather than ticket revenue. The launch will test whether immersive, screen‑free entertainment can command premium pricing in a competitive Chicago market.