Chicago’s viral ‘rat hole’ inspires unity as couple weds at iconic location

Chicago’s viral ‘rat hole’ has attracted crowds from far and wide, now even serving as a wedding venue for one iconic couple.

When planning a visit to Chicago, there are many popular attractions on offer. Visitors may opt for classic tourist destinations such as Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, or, of course, the iconic ‘rat hole’.

The Chicago rat hole, found on the sidewalk of West Roscoe Street in the Roscoe Village neighborhood, refers to an imprint of a rodent made when the sidewalk concrete was still wet.

Going viral, the rat hole has since become an internet sensation with visitors leaving behind offerings such as coins, alcohol, and cheese. Now the rat hole is making headlines again, this time for hosting a very special occasion — a wedding.

Raj, who goes by ‘realrajmahal‘ on TikTok, took to the social media platform to share the special occasion with fellow fans of the rat hole.

Captioned “My dream wedding at the Rat Hole,” the video shows Raj and his now-husband dressed in suits and surrounded by an archway of balloons. The ceremony took place on the sidewalk, the rat hole bearing witness to all.

“We are gathered here today to marry man and man in front of the honorable Chicago rat hole,” a celebrant announced shortly before the couple shared their first kiss as newlyweds.

“At the end of the day it is just an imprint of a rat on the sidewalk, but I think there is so much more to it,” Raj told the Chicago Sun Times. “The rat hole is a legacy of Chicago.”

The couple gave up their deposit at a separate wedding venue to switch locations to Chicago’s rat hole. Raj said, “It just felt right. I didn’t really care what other people thought about it.”