Here's When La Grange Theater May Open: Official

LA GRANGE, IL – The company that is taking over the operations of the La Grange Theatre may open in a little more than a month, a village official said Monday.

"We're excited to announce that we believe there will be movies beginning to be shown Memorial Day weekend," Village President Mark Kuchler said at a Village Board meeting. "We're thrilled about that."

Downers Grove-based Classic Cinemas is renovating the nearly 100-year-old building at 80 S. La Grange Road. The theater has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic.

Classic Cinemas is expected to invest at least $1 million in the theater, which only showed second-run films before. The $1 million would allow the theater to show first-run films, boosting ticket sales.

The money would also pay for an extensive renovation, which will include the installation of heated, reclining seats, and the construction of an additional auditorium, according to the village.

Last October, the Village Board voted unanimously for the forgiveness of $1 million in village loans to the theater.

Under an agreement, the theater would be released from liens and would charge an entertainment tax on ticket sales that would be split between the village and Classic Cinemas.

At the end of Monday's Village Board meeting, trustees went into a closed session to discuss the theater contracts. Officials did not provide details.

Classic Cinemas couldn't be reached for immediate comment.