“The future of the long vacant Ramova Theatre is coming into clearer focus as work progresses to turn the 1920s movie house in Bridgeport into an entertainment complex.
“Work is slated to wrap up this year on the massive redevelopment project, which will turn the Ramova Theatre, 3518 S. Halsted St., into a concert venue, restaurant, brewery and events venue, developer Tyler Nevius said.
“The Ramova is nearing its second act after sitting vacant for more than 30 years. Developers and officials are hoping its revival will be a destination and economic engine in Bridgeport.
“‘It’s going to be a big economic boom, make for a second major attraction in the ward’ after Sox Park, Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) said. ‘This performing space is going to be a beautiful rounding out of things to do in the neighborhood.’
“Once a movie palace that anchored the Halsted Street corridor, the Ramova will soon be revived. Its main feature will be a 1,800-capacity concert venue.
“The portion of the building that housed the movie theaters is being converted into a performance hall with three tiers of standing-room areas on the main floor and a ‘thrust stage’ that juts out into the crowd, said Pete Falknor, director of operations for the Ramova.
“The concert venue will have balcony space, including one that will make use of the old movie projector rooms, the development team said.
“It is the latest concert venue to open in Chicago, following Radius near Pilsen and the Salt Shed, another redevelopment of a historical structure into an entertainment complex. Ramova will book national touring acts for its concert space, Falknor said.
“A revived Ramova Grill will also inhabit the theater complex. The beloved diner is being resurrected by Bridgeport native Kevin Hickey, chef-owner of The Duck Inn.
“A brewery, which has yet to be publicly named, will also open inside. Excavation work is underway to fit the equipment needed to brew on the site. An exterior space just south of the theater will be turned into a beer garden.
“The theater complex’s second floor is being turned into a roughly 200-capacity events space. It is being built out as a black-box space capable of hosting a variety of events, including private dinners, community events and all-ages shows.
“The city bought the theater in 2001 to preserve it for development and spent more than $350,000 on roof repairs. City leaders struggled for years to find developers who were willing to invest in rehabilitating the deteriorating structure.
“In 2020, the theater was sold to a venture led by Nevius’ Our Revival Chicago LLC and local development firm Baum Revision. Quincy Jones — a music legend, 28-time Grammy winner and South Side native — is also an investor.
“The city, which sold the complex, also pledged $6.8 million in tax-increment financing to help with what was then pegged as a $23 million project.
“‘The reality is, if we want projects like this done, we’ve got to do everything we can to pave the way,’ Lee said. (Ward, Block Club Chicago, 3/24/23)
- Read the full story with many photos at Block Club Chicago
- Look Inside Bridgeport’s Iconic Ramova Theater As It Undergoes A Massive Restoration, The 1929 movie house, a sister theater to Lakeview’s Music Box, is getting a $30 million makeover into an entertainment complex after sitting dormant for more than 30 years, Joe Ward, Block Club Chicago, 3/24/23
- Ramova Theater In Bridgeport, A ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ Readies For Its Comeback After Decades Of Sitting Empty; A $28 million restoration project will transform the crumbling theater into a live entertainment space, restaurant and brewery, Amy Qin, Block Club Chicago, 10/12/21
- The Ramova Theater History at CinemaTreasures.org
- Chicago Movie Theaters – A Preservation Chicago 2012 Most Endangered