Ramova Theatre, Chicago

2024 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Adaptive Use

In 2017, the husband-and-wife team, Tyler and Emily Nevius initiated the reimagining, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the Ramova Theatre. Designed by architect Myer O. Nathan in the then-popular Atmospheric style with Classical- and Spanish Revival-style detailing, the Ramova served as the primary movie theater in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood between 1929 and 1950. It shuttered its doors in 1985 and sat vacant until the Nevius’ stepped in. The project brought together the community, with dozens of local investors as well as big-name South Side natives like Quincy Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Chance the Rapper contributing a total of $4 million to the preservation effort. The adaptive reuse resulted in an 1,800-person live music venue and destination space featuring a craft brewery, taproom and grill. In addition to hosting live performances, the restored Ramova Theatre welcomes the community through educational programs and initiatives.

Additional Information

The adaptive reuse of the Ramova Theatre created 15 permanent salaried positions and approximately 80 service jobs in the theater, taproom, brewery and diner. The project received federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits, tax-increment financing from the City of Chicago, a low-interest C-PACE loan and state funding from the Build Illinois Bond Fund.

 

(Photo: Exterior, before & after restoration)

Project Principals

• Tyler and Emily Nevius, Owners
• Dan O’Riley, AIA, Principal, O’Riley Office, Design Architect and Architect of Record
• John Reynolds, Baum Revision, Developer
• Andrew Totten, McHugh Construction, General Contractor
• Clemeth Abercrombie, Charcoalblue, Lead Design
• Rachel Will, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Facade and Interior Restoration Consultant
• Sofia Mattesini, Ryan, Historic Tax Credit Consultant
• Eamonn Connolly, McHugh Engineering Group, Structural Engineer
• Todd Veard, AMS Industries, Mechanical, Plumbing & Fire Protection Engineer
• Kevin Conlin, JMS Electric, Electrical Engineer

(Photo: Interior, before & after restoration)

LI asks: Why is this place important to you?

Tyler and Emily Nevius, Owners

“The Ramova is home to decades of rich Chicago history. While the theater has remained vacant since its closure in 1985, the commercial block of the building along Halsted Street was occupied by various enterprises until 2012.

The Ramova is representative of a specific theater building type that was increasingly popular in the late 1920s: The theater block. The theater block consisted of a traditional commercial block anchored by a prominent theater, tied together visually through architectural ornamentation. The Ramova is an “atmospheric style” theater whose original interior is designed to appear to be a series of exterior courtyards under a nighttime plaster sky, surrounded by faux building facades with Classical and Spanish Revival style ornamentation.

Today, with the theater, brewery, taproom and diner fully operational, the Ramova is once again positioning itself as a center for activity in the immediate Bridgeport neighborhood and, more broadly, the South Side of Chicago.

The taproom being equal parts local watering hole and destination brewpub, draws neighbors as well as fans of craft beer. The diner and its kitchen similarly serve impromptu meals to Bridgeport residents and nearby South Siders as much as it attracts Chicagoans from farther afield. On show nights, people come from all over, not only activating the taproom and diner but the whole block, rejuvenating a previously sleepy stretch of South Halsted Street.”

(Photo: Interior, before & after restoration)

LI asks: How did this place impact people in your community?

Tyler and Emily Nevius, Owners

“Since the time the theater originally closed in 1985, the Ramova has contributed to the decline of the once-thriving South Halsted Street. Since its reopening, this project has proven in a short period of time to be a catalyst for the entire neighborhood. For example, a new tavern has opened across the street and the once-shuttered diner on the corner of the block has been renovated and reopened by a new owner.

While it is mostly anecdotal, we’re constantly hearing from neighbors that the project has brought new energy to the area with increased visibility to the process of saving historic buildings in general and historic theaters in particular. We hope the Ramova’s success will increase public awareness and positively impact projects at the Congress, Uptown, The Forum, Avalon Regal and Portage theaters in Chicago.”