Newsmaker of the Year: Onesti launches Club Arcada; eyes improvements at Arcada Theatre

Ron Onesti, who runs the Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles, was in the news numerous times in 2017.

Onesti opened the Club Arcada Speakeasy and Showroom this year, which celebrated a grand opening in March. The all-ages venue is located on the third floor of the Arcada Theatre.

In addition, Onesti helped bring family-oriented performances to Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles in 2017, such as children’s theater, magic shows and musicals.

And although Onesti warned in September that he would close the Arcada Theatre after its last show of the year if improvements were not made to its air conditioning and the number of restrooms was not increased, parties have been working on a three-way deal to see that the theater's Dec. 31 show is not its last.

“We’re not going dark at all – not at all,” Onesti had said.