Classic Cinemas Monday moved a little closer to bringing first-run movies to La Grange.
The Village Board approved two ordinances granting the Downers Grove-based company two design review permits allowing the renovation of the building first opened in 1925 to include the moving of several outside doors.
“We’re still shooting for that summer release at the La Grange Theatre,” Chris Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the family-owned business, told the Board of Trustees.
Classic Cinemas began in 1978 and has grown to include 15 locations in the Chicago area since then, gaining a reputation for being a firm that breathes new life into old theatre buildings, including its first location, the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove, the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, and Elmhurst’s York Theatre.
Operating under its previous owners as a second-run venue, the La Grange Theatre had fallen on hard times in recent years. First, the advent of streaming services cut into its revenue; then the pandemic forced it to close.
The current owners, who will still be owners of the building, took out a $1 million loan from the Village in 2009 to furnish need infrastructure improvements.
The deal reached was that the theater owners never had to repay the loan as long as it operated as a theater. With the closing, the loan was legally due.
But to bring a first-run theater environment to La Grange, Classic Cinemas first wanted to be relieved of any obligation for a debt for which they hadn’t been a party.
A deal was worked out between the Village and Classic to have a new 50-cent per ticket tax on all ticket sales, with the proceeds being split evenly between the Village and Classic Cinemas.
A key feature of the agreement is that it continues even after the $1 million is repaid.
Contacted by telephone, Chris Johnson talked about the plans for the theater.
“We shot for Memorial Day,” he said of the planned opening. “But it will likely be early summer.”
Johnson said the new configuration will include six screens and continue the Classic Cinema tradition of a complete modernization of the venue, even including heated seats.
“It will be similar to our other locations,” he said.
Keeping the Theatre-going experience affordable is also a goal.
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“We are definitely mindful of admission price,” Johnson said, although he stressed that he couldn’t yet commit to a specific price.
He noted that the La Grange Theatre would continue the tradition of Classic Cinemas proving free refills on soda and popcorn, stressing “we’re going to provide value.”
Johnson said that the company was in La Grange “for the long haul,” and that the closing of Classic Cinemas at Ogden 6 in Naperville was the decision of the City and not the company.
“The La Grange Theatre is this gem that has been open for almost 100 years,” he said. “It’s the perfect fit for us. We’ll combine the best of the old building with modern amenities.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.