The Alvin

Vacant movie theater

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Located in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, the Alvin Theatre operated as a Spanish-language movie house during the 1970s until recently converted into a retail clothing store. The building has long been empty, but is supposedly back on the market after years in escrow; perhaps some young cinephile or theater group yet will take one more chance on this forgotten space.

Built in 1913 and originally seating 540, the Alvin, whose intricately decorated yellow-brick facade has been obscured by years of random signage and neglect, was at one time part of the storied Balaban & Katz chain and hung on into the 1970s, but was eventually repurposed as a retail clothing shop under the name “V.I.P. Fashions.” In 2016 it was converted into the Shapiro Ballroom which opened in October 2016. It was closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and never reopened

Type

Theatre / Concert hall