Arlington Theaters on a warm Spring night earlier in 2012.
The Arlington Theaters, 53 S. Evergreen Ave. in Arlington Heights, closed Sunday after it was built as part of the Arlington Town Square in 1999, right next to a 14-story luxury condominium high rise — the last Chicago area high rise built in the 20th Century. Negotiations failed recently, and The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com immediately began receiving tips yesterday from residents regarding the closure.
John Scaletta, who has owned Arlington Theater since it opened, had been negotiating for about a year to renew the lease and install mandatory digital technology upgrades. By late 2013 all theaters that want to show New Releases from movie studios will need digital projectors and other digitally-related equipment to function.
John Scaletta is also a Village of Arlington Heights Trustee. About 25 employees are also affected by the closing of the theater.
arlingtontheater.com …
Arlington Theaters on May 3, 2012 about 9:30 p.m.
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I doubt the landlord let this deal fall through. I’d like to know what’s really going on. Also i’ve heard a rumor going around about a very popular restaurant on the N side of the tracks- closing. I thought the person might be thinking Chin’s but i heard it from two others. It’s name starts with a J. Let’s hope not!
What is really sad about this, I just read that the property holders, which I suspect is a group of village officials who bailed out the original people who couldn’t satisfy the loan. Anyway, the property holder and it’s investors along with the management company is looking to bring in someone from the outside, ie; big corporate theater probably ! And the new equipment, and have someone else run it as an “anchor” to downtown AH. Baloney … if they wanted it to be an Anchor, and if our village officials wanted it “hometown” ..then they should have stepped up to the plate like they did on the metropolis shenanigans! That really irks me , they want it to be “neighborly” and “hometown” yet, let a major business swim in the deep end with hungry sharks and get eaten alive by a FRANCHISE../ Which will now double the price of a movie no doubt. NO THANK YOU, that is not neighborly at all. Maybe they’d like to buy me out of this town too… I’m ready to go, sad to say after spending most my life here!