(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Since the 1990s, Cinema Chatham — also known as the Chatham Theater — has been a popular spot for movies on Chicago’s South Side. The theater, though, has closed its doors permanently.
In 2021, it reopened from a COVID-related closure and was bought by Emagine Entertainment, which has now announced the theater’s permanent closure.
In a statement, the company said the location was “no longer economically viable.” South Side Ald. Ronnie Mosley (21st) released a statement of his own and called the closure a “major blow to the arts and entertainment scene of the ward.”
“Unfortunately, our ward has faced numerous setbacks, and recent incidents in the 87th and Dan Ryan Business Corridor have made it necessary to organize a forum with the local business owners,” he said. “The goal of this collective effort is to gather valuable insights and develop strategies to improve the area and ensure a thriving business community.”
Mosley added that more details about the forum will be released.
With the closure of Cinema Chatham, AMC Ford City 14 and Harper Theater in Hyde Park are now the South Side’s only open movie theaters.
Emagine Entertainment said it understands the closure “may be disheartening” to the South Side community, and officials encouraged their “valued guests” to visit its locations in suburban Batavia and Frankfort.
“These locations offer a wide range of cinematic experiences, ensuring that the magic of the big screen remains accessible to all,” the company said in a statement.
By car, it takes about one hour to travel from Chatham to Batavia. Frankfort is about a 30-minute drive from the neighborhood.
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