Esquire Theatre

58 E. Oak Street,
Chicago, IL 60611

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: AMC Theatres, Balaban, H & E, Loews Cineplex, M & R Theatres, Plitt Theatres

Architects: William L. Pereira

Firms: Gelick Foran Associates, Pereira and Pereira

Functions: Restaurant

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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News About This Theater

Esquire Theatre 1976

Opened on February 16, 1938 with Jeanette McDonald in “The Firefly”. The Esquire Theatre had a single auditorium with over 1,400 seats, but the Esquire Theatre underwent a conversion to a six-plex in late-January 1988. It reopened on February 9, 1990.

Most recently operated by the AMC Entertainment chain after many years under the Loews Cineplex chain, the Esquire Theatre was closed in September 14, 2006.

In 2011, the Esquire Theatre was gutted and its marquee removed, and became retail space. The vertical sign and part of its facade was retained. In late-2019 it was converted into a winery & restaurant

Contributed by Ross Melnick

Recent comments (view all 190 comments)

juliamcfit
juliamcfit on February 2, 2016 at 12:29 pm

Does anyone know the what the premier date for Gone With The Wind was-at the Esquire theater, in 1940? Also the dates for premiers also at esquire in spring, summer 1939. I’m looking for a magazine cover of my grandmother standing in a long line at the Esquire in 1939 or 1940. Any help would be appreciated!

Tim O'Neill
Tim O'Neill on February 2, 2016 at 12:33 pm

GONE WITH THE WIND premiered simultaneously at the Woods and Oriental Theatres. Maybe GWTW played at the Esquire later in 1940; I’m not sure.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 25, 2019 at 9:31 pm

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in the shell of the former Esquire building is now permanently closed as of January 2019. Apparently originally announced in November 2018.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on August 19, 2019 at 6:10 pm

Just want to add to the description, the theatre was operated in the 1980’s by Plitt Theatres, when Cineplex Odeon bought the change, the theatre was Loews Theatres entry into the Chicago area.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on August 19, 2019 at 6:59 pm

Seating capacity of the six auditoriums from Loews Cineplex Directory. 1. 212 Ultra Stereo 2. 245 Dolby SR 3. 214 Dolby SR 4. 224 Ultra Stereo 5. 245 Dolby 6. 238 Ultra Stereo

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on September 28, 2019 at 1:58 am

Please update in description, the theatre closed for renovations late January 1988, reopened under Loews and M and R on February 9, 1990. Theatre closed by AMC on September 14, 2006. Just uploaded some material from the Chicago Tribune.

Question is what happened to the orchestra, when I was their in August 1994, it had 6 screens which were on the two old balcony levels. It would of been nice Loews would of built a screen in the old orchestra level.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 10, 2019 at 4:59 pm

The former Del Frisco’s is now called Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant. They have an Esquire wine, with an exterior image on the bottle…

https://www.facebook.com/coopershawk/photos/p.10157445231095180/10157445231095180/?type=1&theater

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on January 18, 2020 at 11:34 pm

Click here for an architectural review of the building’s retail conversion.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 26, 2023 at 8:53 am

Cooper’s Hawk Will Vacate Esquire Theater Space and Close Its Sole Chicago Location, link below:

https://chicago.eater.com/2023/5/25/23737516/coopers-hawk-gold-coast-chicago-wine-closing?utm_campaign=chicago.eater&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0a0GvuUGQ58LRbdoVEfbhesqeWsUP47uy-OqsxoYDmoB-eTmllo1ibChI

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