There’s only one place in DeKalb where you can find hip-hop, folk, funk, salsa, jazz, a Frank Sinatra tribute and rock ‘n’ roll.

Since The House opened in August, 2000, at 263 E. Lincoln Highway, it has become a positive, relaxed venue that showcases oodles of local talent while providing a place for people of all ages to spend their free time.

If you ask any of the patrons or performers what makes The House special, they’re most likely to mention the vibe.

“There’s just so many possibilities with this venue, with the great people of DeKalb and so many styles and interests,” said House general manager Matthew Clark, who prefers the title of Good Vibes Generator. “I feel The House is going to be able to jump in and provide a place for these different acts — for these different genres, styles, vibes — to come through, represent their talent and get other people involved.”

Along with Otto’s Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, The House has moved to the forefront of venues stepping up to improve DeKalb night life.

“The neat thing about The House and how it’s gonna help revitalize the whole scene is, that as a cultural community center, we have the stage and we can do, for the most part, anything,” Clark said. “We’ve had poetry readings, we’ve had one-acts, we’ve had One Good Tooth [improv] comedy.”

Although one might think a heated competition between Otto’s and The House would exist, that isn’t the case.

“The great thing about Otto’s and us, there’s not any competition, because they offer what they do and we offer what we do,” Clark said. “If anything, they complement each other. They’re 700, 1,000-type people, where ours is more 75, 100-type people.”

Many local musicians enjoy performing in The House’s more personal atmosphere.

“I’m a singer-songwriter and when I found out this place was opening, I wanted to check it out, see what the vibe was,” said senior English major Erich James. “I was blown away. Before long, I got to know Matt and the scene and the atmosphere here, run by magnificent people. Very honest, very loving people.”

Almost every aspect of The House is unique. Upon entering, there are three immediately discernable areas of congregation. There’s a tabled area for things like lunch, coffee and studying. On the right, there’s a curtained, furnished living room setting for people to get comfortable. Toward the back is the dining area, where every seat has a clear view of the stage.

Another thing new patrons will notice right away is the eclectic selection of foods.

“You see some of these restaurants, you can go five states over this way and see the same places, same food,” Clark said. “So we thought, here’s a unique opportunity for us to get involved with items that aren’t offered for the most part. Maybe challenge the eater, give another option … Because being only one House, we’re hardly mainstream. There’s only one House and that’s in DeKalb, Ill.”

Some of the food items available include middle-eastern food, “the greatest veggie chili around,” a hummus platter, Italian food, artichoke ravioli and eggplant fries. Prices range from $1 to $3 for drinks, baked goods, chilis and soups. Meals range anywhere from $7 for a plate of panini, chips and pasta salad to $25 for things like steaks, duck and quail.

Although The House is an all-ages venue, it does serve alcohol.

“We do serve beer and wine,” said Clark. “It’s not the focus, but more of a complement. [The idea was] it’d be really nice to have a little coffee shop, a restaurant to go to, you know to get out of the smoke, get out of the alcohol kind of vibe.”

There is no smoking in The House for a few reasons.

“It allows you to walk in and smell coffee, you might smell some of the soup or the panini that are going,” Clark said. “It seems like sometimes with the smoking, it puts a blanket on some of the things that you can smell.”

In addition, the building was without a proper smoke ventilation system. A “smoke eater” for The House would’ve cost $15,000, he said.

Townspeople seem to be enjoying what The House has to offer.

“It’s cool. Good wine, I like the music,” said Asta Nvedeckaite, a local landscape designer originally from Lithuania. “In a couple of weeks they will have salsa, some dancing. That’s kind of exciting. And it is a place to meet people and the culture is fun, too.”

The House has grown quickly since it opened, but it won’t be expanding any time soon.

“It would be cool to knock down a wall here and expand next door. Next door is just an empty building,” Clark said. “There are financial limitations, unfortunately … It would take a lot of money to renovate that space.”

Clark, who has lived in Sugar Grove, Yorkville and Aurora and was a deejay, came to DeKalb in 1998 to do bookings for Otto’s. When asked about The House’s profitability, he had an attitude not found in many entertainment establishments.

“Profitability in the sense of the people, the smiles, the energy, the friendship, people enjoying a show,” Clark said. “For me, the music I get to hear and the people I get to meet and the staff I get to work with, in all these ways, it’s really added up to be very profitable.”jenny gembala photo

Stacy Naden, a senior environmental ecology major, and freshman microphysics major Jesse Smith-Fulia enjoy a night relaxing and playing scrabble at The House.