“The landmark process for the Ramova Theatre at 3508 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport has been far less contentious, with developer Tyler Nevius firmly in support.
“The Ramova opened in 1929 as a sister theater to the Music Box Theatre in Lakeview. The interior was designed in the ‘atmospheric’ style of the 1920s, with an auditorium meant to resemble Spanish courtyards and stars on deep blue ceilings that would glimmer before each movie.
“The theater closed in 1985 and was eventually acquired through eminent domain by the city of Chicago in 2001, according to city planners.
“It was taken over by Nevius’ Our Revival Chicago LLC in 2020, which undertook an expansive rehabilitation of the space, which includes a 1,500 capacity music venue that opened late last year. The venue is also home to Other Half Ramova brewery and the Ramova Grill restaurant.
“Commission members also voted unanimously in favor of landmarking the theater.
“‘This is an amazing project,’ landmarks commission chair Ernest Wong said.” (Quinn Myers and Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 6/7/24)
Preservation Chicago is thrilled that the Ramova Theater has finally reopened after a long restoration and much longer period of vacancy. The Ramova Theater was a Chicago 7 Most Endangered 2012 along with a number of other neighborhood theaters. Preservation Chicago had long advocated to find a user for the Ramova in partnership with the Save the Ramova campaign lead by Maureen Sullivan, a dedicated Bridgeport neighbor and community leader.
Ward Miller and Preservation Chicago were even involved with the preservation and relocation of the Ramova Grill interior fixtures, a beloved neighborhood restaurant located next to the theater, to Benton House in 2012.
We testified many times in support of Preliminary Chicago Landmark Designation for the Ramova Theater before the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Preservation Chicago continued to work with and support stakeholders in an effort to help the final Ramova Theater redevelopment be as successful as possible. We fully supported this development and supported the use of TIF funds to make it possible. This is precisely the type of neighborhood-oriented reinvestment that Chicago needs to help make all neighborhoods vibrant places to live, work and explore.
Read the full story at Block Club Chicago
- Ramova Theatre officially named landmark by City Council, ABC 7 Chicago, 9/19/24
- Newly reopened Ramova Theatre on South Side declared Chicago landmark, WBBM Newsradio 780 Chicago, 9/19/24
- Ramova Theater Landmarking, Six Corners Peoples Gas Project Secure Key City Approval; Both projects could be approved by the City Council at Wednesday’s meeting. The council’s zoning committee also approved a Northwest Side anti-gentrification ordinance but delayed a vote to landmark Pilsen’s St Adalbert’s Church, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 9/17/24
- Pilsen’s St. Adalbert’s Church, Bridgeport’s Ramova Theatre In Line To Become Chicago Landmarks; Both proposals are headed to City Council for final approval. Pilsen neighbors have battled for the landmark designations for years, while the Archdiocese of Chicago opposes it, Quinn Myers and Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 6/7/24
- Landmarks approves final landmark recommendation for Ramova Theater; A rehabilitation and restoration was recently completed on the building, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 6/19/24
- McHugh Construction completes restoration of Chicago’s historic Ramova Theatre; Adaptive reuse project turns 1929 cinema into a live performance venue, adds a brewery and a taproom, and revives the Ramova Grill in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, Building Design + Construction, 4/5/24
- Ramova Theater Redevelopment Completed With Opening Concert, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 2/19/24
- Ramova Theater Chicago Landmark Designation Report, March 2024