A cherished neighborhood landmark is preparing for its comeback. The New 400 Theaters, closed since 2023, will reopen as The 400 Theater under the leadership of Jordan Stancil, an operator known for revitalizing historic cinemas in Michigan.
Located at 6746 N. Sheridan Road, the theater was Chicago’s oldest continuously operating movie house before its closure. Stancil has leased the space and plans to modernize the venue with upgraded projection equipment while offering a mix of new releases, independent and foreign films, and community-oriented programming.
Stancil grew up working in his family’s Rialto Theater in Grayling, Michigan, and later returned to preserve it after a career in public service and academia. He has since reopened additional historic theaters and discovered the opportunity in Rogers Park while spending part of his time in Chicago.
Built in 1912, the theater is an important cultural anchor in Rogers Park, having survived dramatic shifts in the movie industry and two pandemics. Although community groups rallied to support the New 400 before its closure, business did not fully recover after COVID-19.
Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce President Bill Morton welcomed the news of the theater’s revival, noting how significant it is for a community that has seen many of its cultural institutions disappear. “I’ve watched too many of our historic cinemas and theaters torn down over the years—icons like the Granada Theater and the Adelphi Theater,” Morton said. “I personally fought to save and renovate the Adelphi because these spaces matter. They hold our memories, our stories, our identity.”
Morton also reflected on the loss of other neighborhood institutions, including the Wisdom Bridge Theatre, Morseland Cafe, and the Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago. “Rogers Park has lost more cultural treasures than most neighborhoods ever had,” he said. “That’s why the return of The 400 Theater is so meaningful. It’s not just a reopening—it’s a restoration of community spirit.”
Stancil said he is committed to honoring the theater’s deep roots in the neighborhood. “Everyone is excited to honor The 400 Theater’s unique position in the Rogers Park community,” he said. “Independent theaters enrich local culture, and I’m excited to help make The 400 a cultural anchor once again.”
The Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce celebrates the theater’s return and looks forward to the renewed cultural and economic energy it will bring to Sheridan Road.
In addition to the return of The 400 Theater, Rogers Park continues to see exciting new developments that strengthen the neighborhood’s commercial corridors. Recent additions include Seven Venue on Howard Street, the newly opened Alexander’s at Sheridan and Pratt, and Burlington at the Gateway Centre. These new destinations contribute to the neighborhood’s ongoing growth, providing more dining, shopping, and entertainment options for residents and visitors alike.