The mansion in Chicago suburb Barrington Hills that was featured in the FoxTV series “Empire,” has another buyer after an earlier attempt to sell the house fell through.
The 17,500-square-foot home at 45 Lakeview Lane is now under contract, according to a public listing of the property.
The mansion on 8.3 acres had previously been under contract in September 2021, when it was listed for $7.5 million. That sale was subject to an unspecified contingency and has since fallen through.
The home was then re-listed in December for $9.5 million, and came under contract earlier this month. The listing price doesn’t necessarily indicate what the buyers will pay, which won’t be available in public records until the sale closes.
Michael LaFido, of eXp Realty, is the agent for the sellers. He wouldn’t comment on the sale price or the deal beyond confirming the house has a new buyer.
Sellers Sam and Geralyn Cecola, owners of the Admiral Theater strip club on Chicago’s North Side, built the home in 2008 and initially listed it for $15.9 million in 2013. Successive price cuts had shaved the asking price down to $9.5 million by 2019 and $7.5 million in May 2020.
Starting in 2014, the estate was featured as the home of lead actor Terrance Howard’s character Lucious Lyon on “Empire,” which concluded with its sixth season in 2020. Located between Keene and Heather Lakes, the home has six bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a large outdoor pool, boat slip and garage parking for nine cars, according to the listing.
The home is an anomaly in the Barrington Hills market, which is about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. Should the deal close, it would be the only sale of more than $5 million in the suburb in recent years. The suburban luxury market continues to outperform over sectors in Chicago. Mansions in Kenilworth and Winnetka are at the top of the market, seeking $14 million and $16 million, respectively.
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