Arcada Theatre warming up to reopen in mid-July

After being closed for more than a year because of the pandemic, the Arcada Theatre announced plans to reopen in mid-July.

Health guidelines will be in place when the 900-seat theater in downtown St. Charles reopens, according to the announcement.

The Arcada Theatre’s sister operation, the Club Arcada, already unveiled plans to reopen May 7.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently said the state continues to make progress in getting the coronavirus under control and soon could enter the bridge phase, which would be in place before a full reopening of the state as part of Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan.

The Arcada Theatre has been rescheduling shows that had been postponed when the venue was closed.

Herman’s Hermits frontman Peter Noone, Andrew Dice Clay and Queensrÿche are among the acts booked to play at the Arcada Theatre in July.

Two new restaurants – Rock ’N Za and Rock ’N Ravioli – are set to open in the Arcada Theatre building as part of a major renovation project that includes new eateries, hotel suites and additional bathrooms.

The expansion project began to take shape last year after Frontier Development purchased the Arcada building in 2019. Onesti Entertainment leases space in the building for the Arcada Theatre and Club Arcada.

The historic building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, first opened its doors in 1926 and attracted performers such as George Burns and Gracie Allen.

To celebrate National Meatball Day in March, Ron Onesti, president and founder of Onesti Entertainment, gave away 1,000 of his Ron’s Famous Meatballs. In a sign that people were eager to get them, cars were lined up around the block.

“The best part of this whole thing has been the comments and the smiles that people have given,” he said after that event. “They genuinely want to come back. They genuinely miss us and the music. Seeing all these people, it’s like seeing family and friends again after a year.”