Business: Ogden 6 Theatre
Address: 1227 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville
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Phone/website: 630-357-5050, www.classiccinemas.com
General manager: Patrick Stickney, a 12-years company employee and Naperville manager since 2011
Number of years in business: Family business began in 1978 in Downers Grove and purchased the Ogden 6 location in 1996. The company has 13 locations in 12 Chicago-area towns.
What does this business do? “We try to make movie-going fun and affordable,” Stickney said. “We’re four dollars all day every day. When we have a 3D movie, it’s six dollars. How can you go wrong with that? We offer free refills on all size drinks and popcorn and Icees, and we have these kiddie caramel packs, with free refills on those as well.”
How many full- and part-time employees do you have? “I have about 30 people on staff,” and will be hiring more for the summer. “Most of my staff is part time because we do hire just high school (students), so they just work part time. It gives them the experience of interacting with the local community and the guests, understanding the business concept, from working the register to understanding the food concepts.”
What was the impetus for opening? “We’ve had Ogden since 1996, but it’s been open since 1976 (when it was owned by American Multi Cinema Corp. of Kansas City). When we took over, we just kept that family-oriented base and kept on going to make it friendly and the home town theater, where you can just come and relax and take that two-hour vacation from reality.”
What is the best thing about being in Naperville? “There’s a really diverse group of people, friendly people. It’s a nice location and a great community. There (are) people that have been coming here for 30 years, and I can sit down and have a normal conversation with them, and then the new generations coming in.”
What is the biggest challenge being located in Naperville? “I don’t see any challenges. We just love being part of the community. We have school field trips that come here, a senior center that comes at least once a month. And then we have special ed groups that come because it’s easier for them. Summer camps, too.”
When is your ‘busy’ time? “The busiest time of the year is always the summer. Especially in the summer during our Wednesday morning movie series, when we have a show at 10 a.m. that is kid- and family-friendly movie that’s only one dollar. … But then also when schools are out, like during spring break. Friday night is usually date night, so we get busy then.”
What’s the most popular type of movie? “Superhero movies always do well. And then whatever new Disney movie comes out. Sometimes we get movies that don’t do so well in the big theaters, and they do good here.”
What is your least favorite thing to do? “I really don’t have a least favorite thing to do. Sometimes there are ups and downs but that comes with the territory.”
What is the biggest misconception about your business? That we’re a small operation, he said. “We have six auditoriums, four large ones and two smaller ones. We can seat around 1,750 guests all together. And because everything is digital, we can play two or three movies and switch out auditoriums depending on how full the theater gets.”
How has your business changed over the years? “Hmmm, I mean with everything streaming, we’ve seen a little drop (in ticket sales), but people still come in to experience the big screens, the good quality sound and just being part of that atmosphere.”
Daina Saleh is a freelance reporter for the Naperville News.