La Grange Theatre Plans To Expand

LA GRANGE, IL – The La Grange Theatre plans to expand by three auditoriums, which means it would demolish part of the building to the north.

Under the plan, Downers Grove-based Classic Cinemas, which runs the theater, would raze a part of the next-door building at 76 S. La Grange Road. That portion of the structure includes Hot Dog & Burger Company and Prime Cuts salon.

Two of the new theaters would consist of 73 seats each and another would have 39 seats.

The current theater houses six auditoriums.

Last week, the village's Plan Commission approved the plan with conditions related to site design, building lighting and parking. The Village Board may vote on the theater's request at its next meeting, which is Aug. 28.

During the pandemic, the theater was closed, but Classic renovated the building and opened it in May 2022, showing "Top Gun: Maverick."

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

With a major remodeling in 2022, the theater reduced the total number of seats to 318, from 986, the village said. Following a trend in the industry, Classic installed heated, reclining seats, which take up more space.

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.