ROGERS PARK — The New 400 Theaters, once the city’s oldest continuously running movie house, is reopening after being obtained by the operator of several historic movie theaters.
The shuttered movie theater at 6746 N. Sheridan Road is being leased to Jordan Stancil, the operator of movie houses in Michigan, Stancil confirmed to Block Club. Stancil will rebrand the movie house as The 400 Theater and restore operations at the Rogers Park institution that closed two years ago, he said.
It’s unclear exactly when the 400 Theater will reopen to movie-goers, but Stancil said he’ll keep people updated through the theater’s Facebook page.
The New 400 closed in 2023, ending a 111-year-run that made it the oldest movie theater in the city and one of its last independent cinemas. Its owner, who also owns the retail strip the theater occupies, said at the time he would look to find a new operator for the theater, but the space has sat dormant since its closure.
Stancil said he plans to bring in new projection technology to the theater and offer a diverse range of programming, including new releases, independent and foreign cinema as well as community events.
“What I really care about a lot is the movie theater experience for the people watching the movie,” he said. “There shouldn’t be any compromise for your movie going experience when you go to The 400 Theater.”
Stancil operates three movie theaters in Michigan, including the Rialto Theater in Grayling, Michigan, which his family has owned since 1915, he said.
Stancil said he started working at the single-screen theater when he was 14. After a career as a foreign service officer in the U.S. State Department and teaching at universities, Stancil returned to his hometown to save the Rialto, he said.
“Everybody wants to have their theater reopened,” Stancil said. “I grew up in a place where we took it very seriously.”
Since then, he’s also taken on two other theaters in Michigan: He reopened Sanctuary Cinema in Alpena, Michigan, in 2023, and Stancil said Big Rapids Theater in Big Rapids, Michigan, is expected to reopen early next year.
Stancil spends part of his time in Chicago, which is how he came across the now-closed New 400 Theaters, he said.
Built in 1912, the ornate building operated a theater and movie house for 111 years, showcasing everything from vaudeville to first-runs of the latest releases.
Throughout its history, the four-screen theater has been known as Regent Theater and the 400 Theater, which was a reference to catering to the most upper-crust crowds. The “400” name remained for over 65 years and, in 2009, it became The New 400.
Tony Fox bought the retail building housing the New 400 in 2007. He took over operation of the theater in 2009, after its then-owner stopped paying rent for more than a year.
The pandemic caused serious issues for the theater, and it pivoted to stay afloat by offering private theater rentals, selling concessions on its patio and by operating as a coronavirus testing center.
The New 400 reopened in 2021, having survived two global pandemics a century apart. But business never rebounded from the pandemic, Fox told Block Club previously.
In March 2023, the Loyola Phoenix student newspaper broke the news the theater was likely to close.
Fans flocked to the theater in an effort to keep the lights on. The Silent Film Society of Chicago hosted screenings of silent horror films and donated the majority of ticket proceeds to the 400 to try to keep it going, but it wasn’t enough.
Stancil said he is looking forward to reviving another movie house that has a rich history in its community.
“Everyone is excited to honor The 400 Theater’s unique place in the Rogers Park community,” said Stancil. “Independent theaters enrich local culture by offering spaces for shared experiences, and I look forward to partnering with the community to make The 400 a cultural anchor once again.”
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