Major Repairs Needed Or Arcada Will Shut Its Doors: Theater Manager

ST. CHARLES, IL -- The Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles could soon be shuttered if plans are not put in place to make major fixes to the historic marquee, the Daily Herald reports. Ron Onesti, who runs the Arcada, said the theater has outdated air conditioning and not enough bathrooms. He is looking to cty officials to help for those repairs.

If he does not get the financial support he needs, he says the Arcada will go dark on Dec. 31, according to the Daily Herald.

Onseti sent the city a letter laying out those expectations in June and since then, he says city officials have been "very supportive." But the city one of the major setbacks the city has to do with the fact that Onseti currently only has a month-to-month lease and does not own the building at 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles, according to the Daily Herald.

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The building owner is currently not willing to make any deals with the city. This, along with the fact that Onseti has a short-term lease on the building, means the city could put millions into the building and still "wind up with nothing to show for it," according to the Daily Herald.

Meanwhile, the bottom line for Onseti, he said, is to provide a theater where people want to come and support his business.

"If we don't make improvements, in two or three years people are not going to come to the Arcada," Onesti told the Daily Herald. "This is my career and my name and my brand. If I can't achieve an amazing experience for my customers, then I have to go to a place where I can. My intent is not to leave. But I stand by what I said in my letter. Major action has to be taken within the next 30 to 60 days, period."

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