The theater will open up in the first quarter of 2025, according to a press release.
Alcohol is expected to be served following the opening and the theater will feature power-reclining seating.
Specifically that the former ShowPlace ICON movie theater is finally being restored under the AMC banner.
This is a monster development for a number of reasons.
First off, South Loop rocks.
There’s the lake front walking and museum campus and Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church anchoring Michigan Avenue.
There’s history and culture and even my wedding venue.
I love South Loop and think it needs to get way more respect.
Second, you need a movie theater.
That doesn’t need to a be a complicated point.
Everybody needs a movie theater.
Historically, the ShowPlace ICON was reliable enough to consistently deliver an enjoyable experience.
Like a South Carolina strip club, it could be a lot better but also a lot worse.
But retail theft and the degradation of policing standards ultimately combined to turn the locationriskyin recent years.
And by risky I mean a measured increase in shootings and gun-related violence.
So the neighborhood goes on Movie Theater Probation and loses the ShowPlace ICON.
And now the return of AMC is a telling sign that society is starting to turn for the better.
That’s a good thing.
Finally and most importantly, this is a big fuckin deal for the short-term preservation of Roosevelt Road.
I know that sounds extreme but I’m dead serious.
It’s truly one of our best and most prolific roads.
And lately there’s been a lot of speculation that flash mobs are turning it more south.
That the best days are over and Jerry Reinsdorf would be stupid to put a baseball field anywhere close.
It can snowball quickly and that was a huge concern of mine over the last few months.
Especially for date night.
Dinner and a movie at AMC kills.
