RocHaus owner wants to 'breathe life' into historic West Dundee theater

Kevin Krak has a vision for the historic downtown West Dundee theater he bought three years ago.

He wants it to become an entertainment opportunity for local residents, a place for up-and-coming rock bands to become stars, a national artist's favorite spot to perform on tour.

By this fall, he plans to transform the vacant, century-old theater into RocHaus, a live music venue with history, character and an atmosphere that will give patrons and performers a “wow experience.”

“I want this facility to cater to the community. It's a critical part of the downtown (and) a really special kind of place,” said Krak, president of Gallant Building Solutions in Crystal Lake. “It's going to be awesome. I can see it every time I walk into this space.”

Built at the turn of the 20th century, the theater at 96 W. Main St. has been used as a vaudeville theater, a movie theater, and most recently a live entertainment venue called Clearwater Theater, which shut down in 2011 after losing its liquor license, Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said.

“Regrettably, I don't think Clearwater ever really lived up to the community's expectations,” he said. “I know there's a lot of hope and desire that RocHaus does meet that level of excitement and expectation.”

With the building going into foreclosure in 2012, Krak, a frequent concert attendee, decided to take a chance on what has always been somewhat of a pipe dream.

“When I saw the Clearwater was for sale, I thought, that's the same old great place that it once was. It just needs some new life breathed back into it,” he said. “Fortunately, I'm going to be the guy to do that.”

Krak has taken his time planning the concept of the standing-room-only theater, which has a capacity of 500 patrons.

The two bars on the first floor were ripped out and will be replaced with a large bar against the back wall. State-of-the-art lighting, sound and production systems will be installed. The interior aesthetics — colors, fabrics and finishes — will be updated.

The building's exterior will also be redesigned, he said.

“When we're done with this, I want people to be blown away by the experience — by the venue and the sound and the lighting,” Krak said. “That's my work — all the details that get us there.”

But updating a historic theater is somewhat of a balancing act, Krak said.

He hopes to work several of the original elements into the renovation, such as the stage structure, the exposed brick walls and much of the woodwork.

“It's important to me that the character of the original building stays here,” he said. “Our plan is to keep as much of that atmosphere and environment as intact as possible.”

Krak is also planning to transform an adjacent building, which was once a hotel, into a green room and lounge, similar to the House of Blues Foundation Room in Chicago. Attached will be a full suite for touring artists.

West Dundee has always intended to find a new operator for the theater who understood the importance of synergy in the downtown area, Cavallaro said. Krak, who also owns Dooley's Irish Ale House next door at 98 W. Main St., seems to be the perfect fit, he said.

“There really is a void within the area for live entertainment that RocHaus can really fill and from that perspective make it a destination that helps both the community and surrounding businesses,” Cavallaro said. “We're really excited about (Krak's) vision and the investment he's made in the community.”