Ramova Theatre

Reopened Friday January 26 2024. Here’s an article

Also, the Ramova was not built on the site of the Monogram, but next to it. So, it was in the unusual position of having three theater buildings in a row, with the Casino at the other end.

It was never run by Lasker & Sons. The building was built for local lithuanian businessman Jacob Maskolinuas while the theater was leased to Harry A. Reckas, a Greek real estate investor and theater man. Rackas later purchased the building out of foreclosure in 1934 and with his business partners John Semedalas and John Manta, the theater remained in the same independent ownership through at least 1962 if not beyond. This group also owned the Milda, Milo, Linden, and Wallace at different times.

While the Ramova is often called the twin or sister to the Music Box, it’s really more correct to call it a classmate. It had different ownership, a different architect, and a different capacity. It had similar exterior architecture and opened in the same week, also folllowing a sound films only policy.

More on the involvement by the musical icons who are involved.Link

Reopening New years eye! Link is above

Here’s the story in its entirety with citation. Ramova

The reopened Ramova Theatre will also be home to Other Half Brewing, which will open a brewery and taproom inside the Ramova Theatre that will be a 1,500-capacity concert venue and dining destination in the coming months. Developer Tyler Nevius is spearheading the Ramova redevelopment with Emily Nevius, his wife. “This idea of creating a music venue and a brewery was really developed organically with them to a great extent.”

Other Half chose to join the Ramova project for one primary reason: music. Other Half’s founder Matt Mohanan said “It just seems like a natural evolution for what we’re doing. Adding a music component to what we do, we’re just lucky to be here and excited.”

Other Half Ramova will include a taproom along Halsted Street. Behind that will be a glass wall where visitors can check out the on-site brewery production floor below with around 20 draft lines available in the taproom.

Other Half Ramova will adjoin the 20-seat Ramova Grill, itself reopening after an 82-year run in 2012. Kevin Hickey and Brandon Phillips will oversee the culinary and beverage programs at the grill respectively, with a full menu available to OHR patrons.

The city bought the Ramova Theatre, closed since 1985, in 2001 to preserve it for development, but officials struggled for years to find developers willing to invest in rehabilitating it. In 2020, the Ramova was sold to a venture led by Nevius’ Our Revival Chicago LLC. The $30 million project broke ground in 2021.

Getting closer to opening according to Crains Chicago Business.Link

$30 million makeover via Block Club Chicago article below.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/03/24/bridgeports-ramova-theatre-could-debut-this-year-as-concert-venue-restaurant-and-brewery/?fbclid=IwAR2mCBSnGWcIcGylgEa497VRBTJqTLYOMsNid-yyQTa6rQ2aj0-eXroVPeI

Was over that way a few months back. Didn’t seem like much was happening. But the proprietor of the restaurant on the corner said they’ve been working on it.

Block Club Chicago coverage of today’s groundbreaking ceremony and plans.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/10/12/ramova-theater-bridgeport-starts-getting-makeover-renovation/

A $23 million plan to redevelop the city-owned RAMOVA Theatre into a 1,600-capacity concert and performance space was announced at a community meeting Tuesday night by 11th Ward Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson. Developer Tyler Nevius plans to buy a privately-owned parking lot across the street and privately-owned vacant commercial spaces adjacent to the theatre that would be transformed into a brewery and a revived Ramova Grill Restaurant, with the help of nearby native and chef Kevin Hickey. Maureen Sullivan, a neighborhood native and past aldermanic candidate, had been campaigning to revive the RAMOVA for fourteen years. Her pro-restoration petition got 5,000 signatures in a few months, but without funding, her efforts stalled. Sullivan said her first memory of the RAMOVA was seeing “Bambi” there at age four and described it as ”like walking into another world. You smelled the popcorn as soon as you walked in, and it was like you were entering into a playground.” The RAMOVA was intended as a larger version of the MUSIC BOX Theatre some miles to the northeast, and was owned by a Lithuanian family who named it using a word for “peaceful place.” The city of Chicago acquired the RAMOVA in 2001 and advertised for a developer while spending $364,000 in masonry, roof and drainage repairs. Ald. Thompson said many were nervous over the signs of deterioration over three decades, but Nevius approached him in 2017 with enthusiasm. Nevius started a development company, One Revival Chicago, specifically for the RAMOVA, which seeks to get the theatre and a neighboring vacant lot from the city for $1 and $6.6 million in tax-incremental financing (TIF) assistance for the redevelopment. Nevius says he’s been negotiating with the city on staying on the project for at least ten years, or else the TIF funds would be repaid to the city. The plan goes before the Community Development Commission as early as December 10, then needs to be approved by the Plan Commission for zoning changes and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (the terra cotta exterior of the theater could be considered a landmark), before it goes before the City Council for final approval.

There’s a meeting on the RAMOVA Theatre set for Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 at 6pm CST in the Nativity of Our Lord Church basement, as per 11th Ward Ald. Patrick D. Thompson. A developer has expressed interest in the property for entertainment purposes. Anyone wishing to comment and/or who cannot attend may email Ald. Thompson at and/or call him at 773-254-6677.

Projects: The Ramova closed in April of 1985. I saw the last movie to play there; Police Academy 2. The poster was still pasted on the front of the theater for at least 15 years. Couldn’t forget it if I wanted to. Ha