‘Think tank’ residents hope to save Wheaton Grand
Members of an unofficial Wheaton think tank interested in renovating the Wheaton Grand Theater got their first up-close look at their potential project Friday afternoon.
And while the vacant theater is not much to look at as it stands now, those on the guided tour said they can envision a much more prominent building within a year.
They say a refurbished theater would increase downtown foot traffic and boost revenue for surrounding businesses.
Danielle Eisenach of Bold Steps Inc., who grew up in Geneva and said she can recall visiting the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, said seeing the residents take interest in the building can only mean good things down the road.
“It’s taking pride in your community,” she said. “It’s the right thing for downtown.”
About 20 people from various industries, including marketing, construction and consulting, took the tour led by a Suburban Bank and Trust Co. representative.
The bank owns the building and has been trying to sell it since it took over the deed last summer. A failed referendum push in April left the theater’s future in jeopardy.
But Wheaton resident and Bold Steps owner Rick Erickson revitalized interest in the site when he created a group to tackle Wheaton’s issues head-on. The theater quickly became the top priority.
Until Friday, however, Erickson had not seen the inside of the building since it was showing movies years ago.
Stepping inside the door, the remnants of the old movie theater remain. A long-empty ticket booth separates two glass doors, each with its own “No Trespassing” sign. A musty smell fills the building and the stains of neglect are evident in every room.
A door next to a concession stand leads into the building’s main room. Where once movies and rock shows entertained residents, now sits an empty hall with walls racked by chipped paint. There are old unused fans and exposed brick walls that used to be covered by ornate fixtures.
But despite appearances Friday, Erickson said he remains optimistic that something great can be done with the theater. He said he remains in constant contact with Suburban Bank’s Senior Vice President Mark Daniels, keeping him updated on the group’s plans.
As it stands now, Erickson said he remains confident enough people with enough money will show interest in the theater to help it return to prominence.
The main vision is for a multipurpose facility that can host conferences and seminars, as well as the occasional movie. Those on the tour said that would likely be the best way to make sure the building turns a profit.
Erickson met with his think tank for two hours before the tour and separated the members into groups that would take charge of different aspects of the effort.
He said he believes in the theater’s future and creating the group is one of the most important steps to seeing it become viable again.
“I really want to surround myself with people who believe we can do something here,” he said. “We have to look at how ugly it is today and think about how beautiful it could be tomorrow.”