In 2019, Marcus Chen spent his weekends driving two hours north to Minneapolis, chasing the pulse of electronic dance music at warehouses and clubs that seemed a world away from his Mankato apartment. Then 26 and working as a logistics coordinator for a regional trucking company, Chen had discovered EDM as a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. But after graduation, he found himself in a familiar bind: to experience the music he loved, he had to leave town.
"I kept thinking, why does this not exist here?" Chen said. "Mankato has 40,000 college students and a huge young professional population. The appetite was obvious. The venue wasn't."
That gap would become the foundation of Kato Ballroom, the 350-capacity EDM venue Chen opened in March 2022 inside a former furniture warehouse on Front Street. What began as a side-hustle obsession has since grown into one of the most unlikely electronic music destinations in the Upper Midwest—one that has drawn performers from Chicago, Detroit, and as far as Berlin.
The Gamble
Chen's path to opening night was neither quick nor certain. For nearly three years, he promoted pop-up EDM events at bars and rented halls around Mankato, learning the logistics of sound engineering, liquor licensing, and artist booking on the fly. He invested roughly $45,000 of personal savings into Kato Ballroom's buildout, including a custom-installed d&b audiotechnik sound system that he maintains himself.
The city council initially balked at his all-ages permit request, citing noise concerns from neighboring businesses. Chen spent six months attending meetings, revising his security plan, and agreeing to a strict 1:30 a.m. close on weeknights.
"Everyone assumed EDM meant chaos," he said. "I had to prove we could run a professional, safe room."
Opening night—March 12, 2022—featured Chicago house producer Hiroko Yamazaki to a sold-out crowd of 340. Chen remembers standing in the back, watching the floor move as one mass, and realizing the drive to Minneapolis was over.
The Room
Kato Ballroom's physical space defies its industrial origins. Chen and a small crew of friends painted the 4,200-square-foot interior matte black, installed a custom LED rig, and built a raised DJ booth that puts performers nearly eye-level with the crowd. The d&b system, rare for a venue of Kato's size, was purchased used from a defunct Minneapolis club and refurbished over three months.
Since opening, Kato Ballroom has hosted more than 80 events, averaging six shows per month. Notable bookings include Detroit techno veteran DJ Minx, Berlin-based producer Anja Schneider, and rising Midwest bass act Tape B. Ticket prices typically range from $15 to $35, with Chen deliberately keeping entry accessible for college students.
"He's not trying to be Minneapolis or Chicago," said Yamazaki, who has returned to Kato Ballroom twice since opening night. "He's building something specific to that community. The crowd knows the music. They're not there to be seen. They're there to dance."
More Than a Venue
For regulars, Kato Ballroom's appeal extends past the headliners. Chen has cultivated a tight-knit community through pre-show meetups, local DJ openers, and an active Discord server where fans share mixes and coordinate rideshares. On any given night, roughly 30 percent of attendees are repeat visitors, according to Chen's ticket data.
"Mankato felt like a dead zone for this music before Marcus," said Sierra Olson, 24, a nursing student who has attended more than a dozen Kato shows. "Now I have friends I only know because we were in that room together. It sounds dramatic, but it's true."
That sense of belonging has translated into financial stability faster than Chen expected. Kato Ballroom turned profitable in its 14th month, and Chen recently signed a lease on an adjacent space he plans to convert into a smaller, 100-capacity room for experimental electronic and local showcases.
What Comes Next
The EDM industry nationally has faced headwinds in 2024, with festival cancellations and rising artist fees squeezing mid-sized promoters. Chen has responded by doubling down on regional talent and collaborative events—partnering with Iowa City's Gabe's and Fargo's Aquarium venues for multi-city mini-tours.
He also knows the "masses" of his original ambition were never a national audience. They were the college kids and young workers who, like him, were tired of leaving town to find something that mattered.
"People kept telling me Mankato was too small for this," Chen said. "I think they had it backwards. It's because we're small that it works. Everyone finds their people here."
Kato Ballroom's next major booking is Chicago footwork producer DJ Rash
