“Chris Bauman’s dreams of turning the 106-year-old Portage Theater into a community gathering space that hosts everything from concerts to film screenings and indoor markets is starting to take shape.

“Bauman’s company, Zenith Music Group, bought the Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., in the fall. Bauman paid off the more than $500,000 of back taxes owed on the property, has taken over payments for the canopy that was erected under the damaged marquee and has started cleaning up the historic theater’s interior.

“The theater has sat vacant since it was bought by Manuel Gliksberg, of the real estate company Avra Properties, in 2018.

“It’s fully in our hands now, which is exciting,’ Bauman said.

“The Portage Theater operated as a cinema from 1920 until 2001. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the theater operated under a series of different owners, hosting a diverse selection of events such as children’s dance recitals, concerts, day camps and silent film screenings.

“Bauman organized events at the Portage Theater from 2014 to 2018. He went on to found the Avondale Music Hall and bought the nearby Patio Theater in 2019. Over the past five years, the Patio has hosted concerts, dance performances, a Disney princess movie party and thrift markets.

“Ownership of the Patio was restructured about a year ago. Bauman, who is still a partial owner, said the theater is currently closed for renovations but could reopen by this fall.

“The goal when we open Portage again is not just to get it open but to have it ready for the next 100 years,’ Bauman said. ‘We want to maintain its beauty and its history but also make sure it’s ready to host the events of the next century.’

“‘A lot of really wonderful people have already reached out wanting to help,’ Bauman said. ‘It’s been amazing to see how much people care about it.’ (DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 4/13/26)

We’re thrilled that Portage Theater is good hands and is being beautifully restored after a long and complicated process.

Preservation Chicago has been advocating for the restoration and reactivation of the Portage Theater for many years. The Portage Theater was a Chicago 7 Most Endangered in 2012 and played an important leadership role in the Chicago Landmark Designation process in 2013.

Ward Miller spoke in support of resolving the issues and moving forward with a restoration and reopening of the Portage Theater at multiple Building Court hearings,. We continue to work closely with neighborhood partners and have attended the recent Building Court hearings to advocate on behalf the historic landmark building.

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Portage Theater Restoration Advances As New Owner Takes Over Repairs; Chris Bauman, of Zenith Music Group, has applied for grants and begun cleaning the interior of the historical theater, which went into receivership under the previous owner, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 4/13/26
• Historic Portage Theater Has A New Owner Who Plans To Revive It As A Community Space; Chris Bauman, founder of the Avondale Music Hall and partial owner of the Patio Theater, bought the theater and wants to create a “community center” that hosts concerts, film screenings, indoor markets, performances and more, Molly DeVore and Leen Yassine, Block Club Chicago, 10/24/25
• Former Patio Theater operator has contract to buy Portage Theater, which has $503,000 in owed taxes, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 9/11/25
• Prospective Portage Theater Owner Wants To Restore It As A Cinema, But Tax Issues Remain; An attorney for the potential buyer said his client wants to return the Portage Theater to its roots as a movie theater. But before the sale can go through, the theater’s back taxes must be redeemed, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 4/25/25
• $503,000 owed in property taxes for Portage Theater; owner not at building court hearing, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 5/9/25
• Historic Portage Theater Could Go Into Receivership As Owner Gives Up Property; Attorneys said Thursday the theater’s owners filed a motion to withdraw from the property. Community leaders said they feel like plans to restore the theater are “back at square one.” Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 3/21/25
• Historic Portage Theater Deteriorating As City Pushes Owner To Make Urgent Repairs: ‘We’re Sick Of This’; The city is suing the theater’s owner for unauthorized work and code violations. Inspectors say the marquee could collapse if repairs aren’t made as soon as possible, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 10/28/24
• City Sues Portage Theater Owners For Alleged Building Code Violations; The lawsuit comes three months after the 103-year-old theater was named one of the most endangered sites in Illinois, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 8/2/24
• Portage Theater: Chicago Movie Theaters, a Preservation Chicago 2012 Chicago 7 Most Endangered