Oil Lamp Theater Pivots to Former Brewery After Shoe Store Deal Slips

A change in real estate fortunes has rerouted Oil Lamp Theater's long-planned relocation.

The theater will move into the former Ten Ninety Brewing Company building, rather than the Country Cobbler space it had originally targeted, after that deal fell through.

The brewery building was recently purchased by Northbrook investor and philanthropist Richard Colburn, with Glenview realtor Virginia Trux handling the acquisition.

The theater plans to lease the space and begin operations in mid-2028. The new venue will feature approximately 150 seats, a significant upgrade from the theater's current location on Glenview Road.Colburn is a local investor known for quietly supporting arts and education initiatives throughout the area.

Trux, who represented Colburn in the purchase, described the acquisition as an investment rooted in community faith rather than quick returns.

The move represents a pivot from the theater's earlier plans. In November, Oil Lamp launched a $5 million capital campaign called "Light the Way" to fund a move across the street into the larger former Country Cobbler space. That deal recently fell through, and the Country Cobbler building added a "For Rent" sign earlier this week.

Around the same time, the Ten Ninety building became available, offering the theater a new path forward. The former brewery space will allow the theater to nearly triple its current capacity while remaining within the downtown Glenview area.

The theater's leadership has begun notifying supporters of the change in venue, though the $5 million fundraising goal remains unchanged.

The new location provides the expanded performance space the theater has sought for years, allowing for larger audiences and more ambitious productions.

The building purchase and lease agreement mark a new chapter for both the theater and the former brewery site, which has sat vacant since the brewing company closed its doors.