The Ramova Theatre opened in the 1920s as a movie theater in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, but it sat vacant for nearly four decades before a $30 million redevelopment into a live music venue restored the ornate building’s status as a South Side gathering place.
By the time a group of investors began the project and had the building added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, there was extensive water damage and sections of the terra cotta exterior were missing at the theater.
The team of developers led by Tyler Nevius worked together to restore architectural details while converting the theater area to a 1,500-seat concert hall.
“The city needed this and the South Side needed this,” Nevius wrote.
The theater was chosen by an independent panel of industrial professionals in the market as the winner of the 2024 CoStar Impact Awards Redevelopment of the Year for Chicago.
About the Project: The project at 3510 to 3520 S. Halsted St. added an Other Half Brewing craft brewery and taproom, an 18-seat Ramova Grill diner and a 200-person event venue on the second floor. With the goal of attracting A-list music acts, the project also created a greenroom with four suites for performers and an office for tour managers.
What the Judges Said: Strong local support for the project means “giving more opportunity for live music on the South Side,” said Chris Irwin of Colliers International.
They Made It Happen: The project was led by a team including Tyler and Emily Nevius of Ramova Chicago, Dan O’Riley of O’Riley Office, John Reynolds of Baum Revision and Andrew Totten of McHugh Construction.
CoStar Market Manager Kristen Davis contributed.