Businesses Still Feel Pinch of Theater Closing

Few people may be happier with the Alcyon Foundation’s effort to reopen the shuttered Highland Park Theater than businesses located near the entertainment venue shut by the City 18 months ago for safety reasons.

Businesses like Norton’s, Las Palmas, Highland Pop and Café Central felt an immediate drop in business when the theater was closed in May, 2012, theater going customers have not returned.

“In the past 18 months since the theater closed we’ve seen a 20 percent drop in business, especially on Fridays or Saturdays,” Adam Nieto, Café Central’s director of operations, said. “When my parents started Café Central at this location 19 years ago it was because of the theater.”

Boosting sales for its neighbors is one of the goals of the Alcyon Foundation, according to Board Chairman Kimberly Saccaro. “It will bring business to downtown Highland Park,” she said. That has been an issue on the east side of the central business district since Highland Park closed the city owned building in May, 2012.

The group, made up entirely of Highland Park residents, will take the next three and a half months to determine whether its dream of restoring the theater to its 1920’s grandeur for live entertainment, cinema, film festivals and private events is feasible.

Meanwhile, merchants on the east side of the central business district continue to struggle to regain lost business. “My foot traffic has not been the same since the theater closed,” Highland Pop owner Kim Cohen said. “I would run the concession stand,” she added referring to a group of people who were willing to contribute some of their own money to operate the venue now.

Patch asked the City how much money would be needed to reopen the theater and how much of that cost would be recouped by sales tax revenue. Highland Park Officials did not respond by Patch’s deadline.

Richie Holleb, a co-owner of Norton’s, is another long time Highland Park eatery to feel the pinch. “From day one,” he said of the loss of revenue after the theater closed. “We used to get a pre dinner crowd and an after theater crowd. It’s made a big impact on our business.”

Nieto noticed a small dip in business when the Renaissance Place theaters were closed for four months in the spring for renovation. There was a dip and a recovery. He feels it would be five times as much if the Highland Park Theater reopens.

“In the four months since (since Renaissance cinemas reopened) we’ve seen 50 tables come in before or after a movie,” Nieto said. “If next door was open the number would be 250 tables.”

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