Ramova will once again light up Halsted and 35th Street
Ramova Theatre will officially reopen this fall in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood as a live music venue, a brewery partnered with Other Half Brewing, beer garden and grill under partnerships with investment and ownership from legendary Chicago music icons Quincy Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Chance The Rapper, viewing Ramova as another way to give back to the music and arts scene in their beloved hometown.
“I believe the cultural divides in our communities will always be bridged and uplifted by music and the arts,” Jones shares, adding, “with Ramova, I see a future where the rich cultural heritage of Chicago shines even brighter alongside the country’s most talented artists, which will inspire future generations to come and bring glory to America’s Second City.”
The reopening is the culmination of years-long rehabilitation efforts alongside multi-million dollar public and private investments into the South Side Chicago community, which will invigorate Bridgeport as a premier live entertainment destination.
“My mother always taught us to take care of home first, so to support the rehabilitation of this extraordinary theater with such a rich history in Chicago means more to me than one could imagine. I am honored and thrilled to help build this new home for artists and highlight this special community in new ways that will reach far beyond the neighborhoods we call home,” states Hudson.
The sentiments of Jones and Hudson are echoed by Chance The Rapper. “Chicago will always be part of who I am,” he adds. “I joined the team at Ramova to give back to the city that’s given me so much and to provide a stage to showcase the incredible talent Chicago has to offer. This is our moment to revitalize Chicago neighborhoods through one of the most beautiful ways possible — the arts.”
Since beginning operations in 1929, Ramova served as the Bridgeport neighborhood’s primary movie theater until it shuttered its doors 1985 after its final screening of Police Academy 2. The theatre earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 after years of grassroots campaigning from community members. In 2017, developer Tyler Nevius became an investor and owner to oversee and organize the complete reimagining and rehabilitation of the beloved neighborhood theatre.
Working with Architect Dan O’Riley of O’Riley Office in Chicago, the theatre has been completely envisioned into a 1,500+ person live music venue and destination space after standing dormant for more than 30 years. Not only will the theatre bring top touring acts to Bridgeport, but Ramova will also offer educational programs and workshops, and amplify community initiatives from local non-profits. Things might look slightly different than neighbors might remember, but the soul of Ramova will be stronger than ever.
“We’re on a mission to revive this theatre the right way,” states Nevius adding, “we’re doing a complete rehabilitation to this pillar in the community, bringing back its historic grill, creating a world class entertainment space, adding a brewery where we hope people will meet their new best friends. We’re working closely alongside locals who have kept this space standing to allow us this opportunity to do something special for Bridgeport and Chicago.”
The brewery at Ramova, Other Half Ramova, will exclusively brew recipes from partners Other Half Brewing. The brewery aims to build on Other Half’s neighborhood legacy by fostering community in Bridgeport like they do in Brooklyn – making Ramova a place for neighbors to share pints, swap a new playlist or unwind before, during and after shows at the theatre. Other Half Ramova will also offer various collaborations and taps from Chicago’s most beloved breweries.
Ramova Grill, which initially closed in 2012 after an 82-year run in Bridgeport, will reopen as a 20-seat restaurant attached to Other Half Ramova. Partners Kevin Hickey and Brandon Phillips of The Duck Inn will oversee the culinary and beverage programs of the grill, respectively. The food menu will be an ode to the neighborhood, as well as offer snackable and shareable bites. Diners should expect dishes like sandwiches, burgers and fries and chili — Ramova Grill’s signature dish. Dishes will feature high-quality ingredients with a slightly elevated preparation to match the reimagined Ramova Theatre. The restaurant will lead directly into Other Half Ramova, and diners will be able to order from the grill while enjoying crafts from Other Half Brewing or bring the goods out to the beer garden, which is a wildly spacious outdoor space for pre- and post-show drinks.
Ramova has tapped Sarah Loberg to serve as the Director of Food & Beverage for the brewery, grill and theatre. She brings with her more than a decade of experience in the hospitality industry and has overseen operations and food & beverage programming with groups like Land & Sea Dept, The Wing, and most recently The X Company, developing their X Social Club concept in Denver and Phoenix. Loberg is excited to be back in the Chicago hospitality community, working alongside Chef Hickey and Brandon Philips to bring Ramova food and cocktail menus to life.
Familiar faces from the Chicago music scene joining the project include Peter Falknor as Director of Operations and Kyle LaValley, Programming & Creative Director. LaValley will seek the nation’s top touring acts to perform at Ramova, and will oversee marketing and creative direction for the complex. Falknor brings his operational background as general manager for landmark Chicago venues The Empty Bottle, Thalia Hall, and House of Blues to the project.
The development is backed by the husband and wife team of Tyler and Emily Nevius. The pair are lead investors in the rehabilitation and live in Bridgeport with their three daughters. Tyler acts as the project lead for the space, having built a diverse investment group and board while also working alongside Chicago officials to fund the project. Emily will supervise the non-profit outreach for Ramova, with a mission to amplify the already robust programs being run by Bridgeport’s non-profit organizations.
O’Riley Office has worked with Ramova as the Architect of Record and Design Architect since the project’s inception in 2019. Based in Chicago, the firm specializes in adaptive reuse, multi-family, sustainable and high-performance buildings.
Ramova Theatre will officially open this fall and is located at 3520 S. Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois.
