La”For nearly 35 years, Javier Galindo and Lidia Galindo Corral have welcomed artists from all over the world to the Apollo’s 2000 Theater in Little Village.
“They’ve hosted politicians from all levels of government — including then-Vice President Al Gore — and gathered community members for wrestling, fashion shows and quinceañeras. The building, known as the Marshall Square Theatre when it opened in 1917, is now being designated a Chicago landmark.
“It’s a decision the couple’s oldest daughter, Evelyn Stell, said has been almost 20 years in the making.
“‘A lot has been done to the building in order to adapt to our current times,’ Stell said. ‘But being able to bring back and restore the exterior of it would be a great way of honoring the past and history of the building, its architectural history.’
“The history is captured in the terracotta facade and marquee, the prominent domed ceiling, and even the old projection room where operators left behind carbon rods and film reels.
“‘That’s the time capsule because we seldom go up there,’ Galindo said. ‘This is just a personal thing, you know, with me, and her, you know, to actually maintain that sense of respect for the people that worked on it, … the builder, the architect of the design. You know, they’re gone, but they’re still present here. And we have to respect them for the amazing job that they did.’
“Galindo thought back to an offer he’d received to purchase the shuttered Marshall Square Theater. It was a deal he didn’t take seriously at first.
“‘We came to see the place,’ Galindo Corral said. ‘And when I saw it, it looked like a palace for me — because it was at the time, movie theaters were like a palace. So I was in love at the first moment. So then it was like a dream to become the owners of this place.’
“As the Galindos begin to pass the business to the next generation, they said they hope landmark status will revitalize the neighborhood and bring recognition to a hidden gem in the heart of the Latino community.
“‘You don’t really see many landmarks in our community, particularly in areas that are highly disinvested and where there’s a high population of minorities,’ Stell said. ‘So it’s a privilege for us to be able to bring in the prestige of being a landmark to our community.'” (Soto, WTTW Chicago, 5/31/24)
Preservation Chicago strongly supports the Chicago Landmark Designation of the Apollo’s 2000 Theater. We applaud Evelyn Stell, Javier, Lidia and Naomi Galindo for their decades-long loving stewardship of this historic Chicago theater and fully supported this effort to designate the theater and Chicago Landmark. This is an important step for the building that will provide additional recognition, celebration and the possibly of Adopt-a-Landmark restoration funding, and we will support this effort every step of the way.
Read the full story at WTTW Chicago
- For 35 Years, a Chicago Family Has Fostered Community at Apollo’s 2000 Theater in Little Village. Now the Century-Old Venue is a City Landmark; Emily Soto, WTTW Chicago, 5/31/24
- Little Village venue Apollo’s 2000 inks landmark status; Owners Javier and Lidia Galindo have operated Apollo’s 2000 for more than 35 years. Now, they’re ready for the venue to enter its next era as a city-designated landmark, Abby Miller, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/17/24
- Apollo’s 2000 is officially a Chicago landmark; City Council approved the proposed designation, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 4/19/24
- Apollo’s 2000 Theater In Little Village Gets First Approval To Become A Chicago Landmark; The family who owns the theater said they hope a landmark designation could bring in funds to help maintain the historical building, Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 12/7/23
- Apollo’s 2000 Theater Owners Want Landmark Designation To Maintain Its ‘Glory’; The Galindo family has owned the building since the late ’80s. They hope a landmark designation would protect its integrity and bring some recognition to a Southwest Side ‘hidden gem.’, Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 12/7/23
- Apollo’s 2000 Theater Chicago Landmark Designation Report