“The New 400 Theaters, once the city’s oldest continuously running movie house, is reopening after being obtained by the operator of several historical movie theaters.
“The closed movie theater at 6746 N. Sheridan Road is being leased to Jordan Stancil, the operator of movie houses in Michigan, Stancil confirmed to Block Club. Stancil will rebrand the movie house as The 400 Theater and restore operations at the Rogers Park institution, which closed two years ago, he said.
“The New 400 closed in 2023, ending a 111-year-run that made it the oldest movie theater in the city and one of its last independent cinemas. Its owner, who also owns the retail strip the theater occupies, said at the time he would look to find a new operator for the theater, but the space has sat dormant since its closure.
“Stancil said he plans to bring in new projection technology to the theater and offer a diverse range of programming, including new releases, independent and foreign cinema as well as community events.
“‘What I really care about a lot is the movie theater experience for the people watching the movie,’ he said. ‘There shouldn’t be any compromise for your movie going experience when you go to The 400 Theater.’
“Stancil operates three movie theaters in Michigan, including the Rialto Theater in Grayling, Michigan, which his family has owned since 1915, he said.
“‘Everybody wants to have their theater reopened,” Stancil said. ‘I grew up in a place where we took it very seriously.’
“Built in 1912, the ornate building operated a theater and movie house for 111 years, showcasing everything from vaudeville to first-runs of the latest releases.
“In March 2023, the Loyola Phoenix student newspaper broke the news the theater was likely to close. Fans flocked to the theater in an effort to keep the lights on. The Silent Film Society of Chicago hosted screenings of silent horror films and donated the majority of ticket proceeds to the 400 to try to keep it going, but it wasn’t enough.
“‘Everyone is excited to honor The 400 Theater’s unique place in the Rogers Park community,” said Stancil. “Independent theaters enrich local culture by offering spaces for shared experiences, and I look forward to partnering with the community to make The 400 a cultural anchor once again.” (Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 12/1/25)