Portage Theater Purchased with Revitalization Plans
CHICAGO, IL – October 24, 2025 – Teh historic Portage Theater in Chicago’s Six Corners neighborhood has a new owner, signaling a potential turning point for the long-struggling landmark. Local entrepreneur Ross Bauman has purchased the building with plans to restore it as a vibrant community space, aiming to recapture its former glory as a cultural hub.
For decades, the Portage Theater has stood as a silent sentinel in a rapidly changing Six Corners, facing potential demolition and disuse. Bauman’s acquisition offers a lifeline, promising a renewed purpose for the theater and a boost to the surrounding commercial district. The project aims to transform the venue into a multi-use space hosting concerts, film screenings, community events, and private rentals, becoming an ”economic driver” for the neighborhood.
The theater, located at 4050 N Milwaukee Ave, has been a fixture in the area since 1927. While it once thrived as a grand movie palace, it has faced periods of decline and uncertainty in recent years. Bauman believes “it’s not too late” for the theater,emphasizing that “it hasn’t fallen apart” and that now is “the perfect time to revitalize it and bring it back to life.”
The purchase comes amid a wave of redevelopment in the Six Corners area. In the past two years, the neighborhood has seen the opening of a Target, an Aldi grocery store, the Clarendale senior living complex (opened in 2023), and a medical facility across from The Clarendale (opened in 2022). Additionally, the 6 Corners Lofts, a luxury apartment complex, opened in 2024.
Bauman’s vision for the Portage Theater builds on this momentum, aiming to integrate the venue into the neighborhood’s evolving landscape and provide a unique cultural offering for residents and visitors alike. Further details regarding the restoration timeline and specific programming will be announced in the coming months.
