Landmark Theatres Begins Highland Park Renovation

Landmark Theatres in Highland Park's Renaissance Place began renovations on March 8 and expects to reopen at the end of June.

Landmark Theatres in Highland Park's Renaissance Place began renovations on March 8, according to Metzler Real Estate, the asset manager for Renaissance Place. The renovations include space upgrades, a conversion all of its five screens to digital technology and a concessions stand that will likely serve alcoholic drinks to moviegoers. The theater is expected to reopen June 28.  Renaissance Place also has a new tenant: DH Mattix, which operates as a retail gallery for the home, with original artwork, furniture, home accessories, seasonal décor and artisan made gift items, according to Metzler Real Estate.  This is just one of a few recent changes to Renaissance Place. Royce, a new restaurant concept by John des Rosiers which features …

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Highland Park Business Owners Invited to Exchange Ideas

The Highland Park Chamber of Commerce has created a forum for local business owners to share ideas and common issues with each other.

Do you own a Highland Park business? Would you like to bounce ideas off your peers and find out what issues they're facing as business owners? "Open Circle" is a new initiative from the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce where business owners can exchange information and ideas with each other in an informal setting where no registration is necessary. The next event will be held 1-2 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at the Starbucks at Renaissance Place, located at 1849 Green Bay Rd., in Highland Park. Learn and discuss with other local business professionals. No topic is off the table.

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North Shore Foodie Finds

Inovasi Owner Talks New Highland Park Restaurant

John des Rosiers took a break from overseeing the transformation of Highland Park's Moderno into the American-styled Royce to explain what he envisions for the restaurant.

Over the sounds of drilling, moving wood and shuffling feet, John des Rosiers is explaining what's next for his Highland Park restaurant. The owner of Inovasi in Lake Bluff and Moderno in Renaissance Place in downtown Highland Park decided recently to close Moderno, an upscale Italian restaurant, and reopen it as a more approachable, family-friendly spot serving American cuisine. "We built a really good restaurant with Moderno, and we were really proud of it," Rosiers said, "but it wasn't the right thing for Highland Park." Moderno, the modern Italian restaurant that opened in Renaissance Place in April, closed on Dec. 22. It will reopen Jan. 10 as Royce, a chef-driven casual restaurant, with a reasonably priced menu that will include …

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Perchance Boutique Opens Pop-Up at Renaissance Place

This is the upscale Chicago store's first foray into the suburbs.

Landmark Theatres Renews Renaissance Place Lease

Highland Park's only movie theater that's still open will undergo a major upgrade, with all five screens getting converted to digital and 3D technology.

Landmark Theatres has renewed its long-term lease with Renaissance Place in downtown Highland Park. This is good news for a complex that will soon find itself without its anchor store. Saks Fifth Avenue recently announced that it would close its Renaissance Place location after the holidays. Want Highland Park news in your inbox every morning? Subscribe to Patch's newsletter. This is also good news for moviegoers, as the Highland Park Theatre is likely to remain shuttered until the property is handed over, which could be a while. “Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema has been a terrific location for us and we look forward to serving our Highland Park and North Shore communities with the finest in film entertainment and amenities for years …

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Bob Levi

9:49 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012

I have yet to see a movie at RPT without leaving with a stiff neck - even sitting in the last row. Since many movies are over two hours long, I prefer stadium seating. Others have said the same thing about the RPT seating. I'd love to spend movie nights in HP and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants, but it's not going to happen. BTW - I can walk from my home, so the lack of adequate …   more ›

Saks Fifth Avenue To Close At End of December

The Renaissance Place anchor store will shut its doors in Highland Park at the end of the holiday shopping season. The city and developers are already working to find new retailers.

The Saks Fifth Avenue in Renaissance Place will close at the end of December, Crain's Chicago Business reports. The 49,000 square-foot store opened in 2000 in downtown Highland Park. Though no reason has been reported yet for the store's closing, it follows a trend of Saks closures over the past decade. The Saks location at Skokie's Westfield Old Orchard mall closed in 2005, according to Crain's, which also points out that after the Highland Park store closes, the only remaining full-line Saks store in the Chicago area is its flagship location on Michigan Avenue. Shortly after the news was announced, the asset manager for Renaissance Place issued a press release outlining its plan to deal with the loss of its anchor store. “We have enjoyed…

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Council Says Goodbye to City Manager

Dave Limardi attended his final city council meeting as city manager Monday.

Dave Limardi said farewell to the Highland Park City Council Monday night at what was his final meeting as city manager. He will resign from his post Jan. 1. “I’ll be in town, but I assure you one thing: You’ll never see me under ‘Business from the Public’ in a council meeting,” Limardi, 58, said Monday night. The Highland Park resident has held his position for more than 18 years and is the longest serving city manager in the Highland Park’s history. During Limardi’s tenure, the former Ft. Sheridan was redeveloped, Renaissance Place was built and the Taste of Highland Park became an annual event, attracting thousand to the city in conjunction with the Port Clinton Art Fair. New fire and police stations were built.  “Dave Limardi has …

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James M. Lynch

4:29 pm on Tuesday, December 20, 2011

It will be hard to fill Dave's shoes. What a strong manager, intelligent leader and effective administrator. Good luck in the future, Mr. Limardi, and good luck to the city finding someone who can follow you.   more ›