Regal Theater has new owners-what’s in its future?

Regal Theater has new owners-what’s in its future?
Regal Theater has new owners-what’s in its future?

Regal Theater has new owners-what’s in its future?

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The original Regal Theater, built on Chicago’s south side in 1929 was one of the first theater’s in the country built specifically to cater to the entertainment tastes of African Americans. It presented some of the greatest black entertainers in America until about 1971 and it was torn down by the Chicago Land Clearance Commission in 1973. In 1985 the New Regal (formally the Avalon Theatre), was opened by a group of community investors headed by Ed and Bettiann Gardner, founders of the Soft Sheen products company. That effort ended in 2003. It reopened in 2007 after dropping the New part of the Regal name. That lasted until 2010 until the the non-profit that was running it…”We Are Our Brother’s Keeper”, became mired in a financial scandal. The property has recently been purchased by Chicago based Community Capital Investment Partners LLC. No one knows what they plan to do with it. Photo: Flickr/reallyboring