La Grange OKs Theater Expansion

LA GRANGE, IL – The La Grange Village Board on Monday approved the zoning for a major expansion of the La Grange Theatre, which is run by the Downers Grove-based Classic Cinemas chain.

The downtown project entails demolishing a part of the building next door that includes Hot Dog & Burger Co. and Prime Cuts.

The expansion will mean three new auditoriums – two with 73 seats and another with 39, for a total of 185.

That's in addition to the six current auditoriums with 318 seats. The new total would be 503.

Before a renovation in 2022, the La Grange Theater had 986 seats. Following a trend in the industry, Classic installed heated, reclining seats, which take up more space.

During a Plan Commission hearing in July, no one objected to the project, according to village records.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, village officials had kind words about the theater.

"We continue to be excited with all the growth and the support from the community," Village President Mark Kuchler said.

The board voted unanimously for the zoning.

According to village documents, the theater opened in 1925 for plays, but converted to motion pictures in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

In 2021, the Village Board unanimously voted to forgive $1 million in village loans to the theater.

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