Broadcast museum lands tenant, hires new operations manager

18-Dec-12 – Founder Bruce DuMont has confirmed his Museum of Broadcast Communications in River North has signed an agreement with a catering company that will pay the museum for use of its space.

Blue Plate provides, according to its website, “boutique-style catering services to corporate, non-profit, social, and cultural institutions.” It has “preferred status” at more than 85 venues, including John Hancock Center and Chicago Symphony Center.

The deal was signed on Friday. Crain’s Chicago Business reported on Monday the museum currently owes less than $3 million on a mortgage held by Pepper Construction Group – builder of the $29 million, 62,000 square-foot facility on North State Street – and has three more years to pay.

DuMont declined further comment on the museum’s finances, telling Loop North News, “That’s all in the rear-view mirror.”

Meanwhile, the museum has promoted one of its employees to operations manager. 27-year-old Favian Mondragon (left) is from the state of Washington and has been with MBC for one year. He helped oversee the museum’s completion and its opening on June 13.

Mondragon will be responsible, according to DuMont, “for all operations as well as the future coordination of public programming and development initiatives.”