Once a bustling Chicago production center, Harpo Studios was most famously home of The Oprah Winfrey Show. For years, the studio was essential in the television business as well as in the growth of Chicago's West Loop area. But changes in Oprah Winfrey's career and changing corporate policies finally brought about its closing. Many still question if Harpo Studios has entirely moved on or whether it is still in Chicago. Here is what happened to the well-known studio and what presently replaces it.

The Announcement That Harpo Studios In Chicago Would Be Closing Down

Oprah Winfrey said in March 2015 that Harpo Studios would close by year's end. The choice was taken in line with a bigger effort to unite Harpo Productions under the Oprah Winfrey Network ( OWN), with its West Hollywood, California headquarters. As Oprah moved from her daily talk show to cable television and other media endeavors, her business interests changed as well.

Mixed feelings greeted the announcement of the closing. Although some supporters knew Oprah was veering in a different direction, many Chicagoans were depressed to see such a venerable institution close. Oprah personally thanked the city and that she owed Harpo Studios a great deal for helping to define her career.

What Happened To The Harpo Studios Building After It Was Sold And How The Site Was Redeveloped Over Time

Harpo Studios had been sold even before it closed formally. For $30.5 million Sterling Bay, a Chicago-based development company, bought the four-building, 3.5-acre site in 2014. The transaction marked a dramatic transformation in the already fast growing West Loop area.

Harpo Studios building demolition started in July 2016. Watching the famous red-brick buildings fall was a mixed bag event for many long-time Chicagoans and lovers. Once home of one of the most well-known talk shows in history, the location was under new commercial development clearance.

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Harpo Studios’ Cultural Legacy And Its Lasting Relationship With The City Of Chicago

Harpo Studios is no longer headquartered in Chicago, yet its influence on the city is still rather great. Although Oprah Winfrey's success story still inspires many, her presence helped Chicago become known as a significant participant in the TV business. The work done at Harpo Studios affected the West Loop's business and real estate scene as well as media output.

Although Harpo Studios's leaving signaled a major change, it also underlined Chicago's changing economic scene. With additional production businesses and digital content providers still working in the city, it is still a significant site for media and entertainment. Through her several media endeavors, charity, and influence on the careers of Harpo Studios employees, Oprah's legacy lives on. Our specialty at Deep Cleaning Chicago is rejuvenating areas with exacting attention to detail so that every corner shows the best of cleanliness.