Rogers Park’s century-old movie house is getting another shot at the spotlight under a new out-of-state operator. Michigan-based exhibitor Jordan Stancil has agreed to lease the former New 400 Theaters building and relaunch it as The 400 Theater, with upgraded projection and an expanded slate of films and community events. The move could restore a corner movie palace that has anchored neighborhood culture for more than 100 years.
According to Block Club Chicago, Stancil confirmed he is leasing the property at 6746 N. Sheridan Road and plans to operate under the refreshed name The 400 Theater. He told the outlet he plans to program a mix of first-run studio releases, independent and foreign titles, and community-oriented events while bringing modern projection and sound equipment into the space. Neighbors and film fans in Rogers Park are already voicing cautious optimism about seeing the marquee lit up with regular showtimes again.
Stancil’s resume leans heavily on reviving small-town cinemas. He owns the historic Rialto Theater in Grayling and helped open the three-screen Sanctuary Cinema in Alpena, The Alpena News reported. He has also purchased the former AMC in downtown Big Rapids and announced plans for a full renovation and reopening, Big Rapids News reported.
What Stancil Plans For The Screens
Stancil told Block Club Chicago he intends to install new projection technology and pursue “diverse programming” that pairs first-run films with independent and foreign features, plus special events and private rentals. “There shouldn’t be any compromise for the moviegoing experience at the 400 theater,” he said. His goal, he added, is to keep the theater’s intimate, neighborhood feel while updating the technical side so it matches modern audience expectations.
A Century Of Neighborhood Moviegoing
The building at 6746 N. Sheridan Road opened in 1912 as the Regent and later operated for decades as the 400 before becoming the New 400, according to preservation records that track the site’s long life as a neighborhood cinema. The New 400 ultimately closed in 2023 after struggling to recover from pandemic-era losses, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Owner Tony Fox had said he preferred to see another theater operator take over, rather than see the screens go dark for good. Preservation advocates have highlighted the building as a neighborhood landmark and urged careful stewardship of the historic structure and its recognizable marquee.
Neighbors And What To Watch Next
Community groups and volunteers have previously mobilized to try to keep the 400 open, and local leaders have underscored the theater’s key role across from Loyola University, WTTW reported. Ald. Maria Hadden has worked with the owner in the past on protections for the property because it sits in a lakefront protection zone, and neighbors say they will be watching closely for details on programming and ticket prices as plans move forward.
Stancil has not given a firm reopening date. The timeline will hinge on when new equipment arrives, how quickly permits are issued, and what additional renovations he decides to undertake. Still, his recent track record reopening theaters in Michigan has residents feeling cautiously hopeful that the 400’s screens could glow again under a neighborhood-focused schedule.
More information is expected in the coming months as The 400’s new operator files plans and releases programming updates. For now, the fact that an experienced exhibitor has stepped in is the clearest sign yet that Rogers Park’s oldest movie house may be poised for another reel of life.
