Frontier Development purchases historic Arcada building

ST. CHARLES – The Arcada building in downtown St. Charles now has new ownership as Frontier Development, LLC has purchased the historic building.

Frontier Development closed on the purchase of the Arcada building on May 3. Frontier also recently purchased the former Chord on Blues building and has plans to build a two-story restaurant and office building at the northeast corner of Second Street and Illinois Street as part of the First Street redevelopment project in downtown St. Charles.

The Arcada building, located at 105 E. Main St. in downtown St. Charles, caught the eyes of father and son Curt and Conrad Hurst, who own Frontier Development. The historic building first opened its doors in 1926 and attracted such performers as George Burns and Gracie Allen.

“I’ve lived here most of my adult life and the Arcada has always been an interesting building to me because it’s the culmination of art and history,” Conrad Hurst said in a news release from the Downtown St. Charles Partnership.

Onesti Entertainment Corporation leases space in the building at 105 E. Main St. in downtown St. Charles for the Arcada Theatre and Club Arcada. The building had previously been owned by Scott Price, who lives in the state of Washington.

“It’s a refreshing change of environment,” Ron Onesti, president and founder of Onesti Entertainment Corporation, said in the release. “They share my passion for entertainment and St. Charles itself. It’s going to be a great partnership.”

St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina and Fourth Ward Alderman Lora Vitek expressed their excitement with the purchase.

“I am extremely delighted that Frontier Development, which is owned by St. Charles residents, have purchased the theatre and are committed to keeping the Arcada as a very important element of our downtown landscape," Rogina said in the release.

Vitek said the Arcada is a "key piece to the St. Charles community."

“I have no doubt that the expertise Frontier Development brings will continue to enhance the great tradition of the Arcada while also elevating it to new and exciting level," she said.

Down a block from the Arcada Theatre, Pollyanna Brewing Company and a high-end sports bar called Flagship on the Fox are moving into a building on South Riverside Avenue that previously housed Chord on Blues.

The Arcada Theatre and its accompanying operation, Club Arcada, remain open as fire and building code violations at the venue continue to be addressed.

"We have made a great deal of progress with the issues at the Arcada Theater and have reduced the violations by approximately 2/3," St. Charles Fire Chief Joe Schelstreet said in an email on May 22. "We do have a new owner of the building and he is working on obtaining estimates to correct the items that remain outstanding. We are in a very positive place with the change in ownership and have established a great working relationship. We continue to see progress and have every expectation that the last concerns will be resolved expeditiously."