When visitors return to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles in July, Ron Onesti is hoping they experience a bit of movie magic.
“What I’m trying to achieve is when Dorothy walked into the Land of Oz and opened up the door and it went from black and white to color, that’s what I’m trying to achieve when somebody walks under our marquee,” said Onesti, president and Chief Executive Officer of Onesti Entertainment.
In the 16 months the 95-year-old entertainment venue has been shuttered due to the pandemic, a planned major renovation project kicked into high gear that includes upgraded amenities and the addition of eateries and hotel suites.
“Just before the lockdown, we had in place a multi-million dollar renovation, with financing coming from a different source,” Onesti said. “It was going to be a phased situation and take a lot longer than it has. What the lockdown has allowed us to do is step that up.
“Although as a business we’re at a negative cash flow, the renovation budget came from a different source, so we maintained that,” he said. “That wheel kept turning. So we really maximized the time and what was going to take another year and a half will be finished in the next two months.”
What should have taken two and a half to three years will be done in 16 months, he said.
Among the additions to the Arcada are two new restaurants. Rock ‘N Za is a rock ‘n roll pizza and pinball experience with a wood-burning pizza oven from Italy and vintage rock ‘n roll pinball machines, Onesti said. It will be joined by Rock ‘N Ravioli, “which is going to feature all of my classic and innovative Italian recipes, and also have a dueling piano bar,” he said.
Along with an outdoor piazza and a planned rooftop café, the theater will expand into the hotel business with The Arcadian Suites.
“We got the building next door — it used to be George’s (Sport Center) — we got that building and our building,” Onesti said. “We gutted out the second floor of both buildings, put a hold in the wall, connected it, and we’re putting in 11 super hotel suites that will be themed.”
Guests will be able to stay in suites that pay homage to artists including Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Prince, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and more.
“Very experiential,” Onesti said.
Work on the new Limited Edition Club uncovered many architectural elements and design pieces that were prominent when the building first opened but were since covered.
The club, located in the area of the original speakeasy that Lester Norris put in in 1926 when it was built, will offer limited edition wines and liquors giving visitors a place “to experience new beverage opportunities and a really, really high-end VIP experience.” Onesti said.
The old box office area has been transformed into The BarCada, featuring drinks and video gaming.
“There’s so many opportunities to eat, drink, game, enjoy music, stay overnight,” Onesti said. “It’s a complete experience.”
While there are many new additions, the theater itself has had much work done, he said.
“We have all these great things, but the whole building has been redone from a décor standpoint,” Onesti said. “We have all new HVAC, new plumbing, new power, new fire safety.
Perhaps the most common request — more bathrooms — was addressed. The stage was refinished; a new dance floor put in and the dressing rooms were renovated to include showers.
“We’ve tried from a décor standpoint of ‘If Vegas existed in the 1920s, this is what it would look like,'” Onesti said of the Arcada.
While live entertainment returned to the Club Arcada and Speakeasy in May, the Arcada Theatre will officially reopen July 11 when Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone takes the stage. Other July shows include Foghat, Journey Recaptured, Bostyxx, Echoes of Pompeii and Kashmir.
“We got a very full calendar that’s going to be happening very, very soon,” Onesti said.
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When the pandemic first started, the Arcada had to move more than 120 shows, “some of them four, five, even six times,” Onesti said. “Because at first, we didn’t even know what was happening, obviously.”
Onesti said he is thankful for the support of the theater’s customers and neighbors throughout this incredibly difficult time.
“And that actually makes me want to do even more so that they have an incredible, incomparable experience,” he said.
“I’m just excited that we are at the part of the tunnel where the light’s showing. We can really bring what people need. People need their release, this social release,” Onesti said. “They need their music. Music is inspirational. It’s something that feeds the souls of people. They need it. And we’re here to provide it.”
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
When: 5 p.m. July 11
Where: The Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles
Tickets: $49-$89
Information: 630-962-7000 or arcadalive.com
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.