UPDATE: Century Cinema Being Overhauled, Adding Dining Options

Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema is getting ready to let moviegoers sit back, relax and enjoy the show—with a full meal, cocktails and more.

The seven-screen movie theater at 2828 N. Clark St. on the upper floors of the Century Shopping Centre will undergo renovations in the near future, a move that could revive the struggling mall.

"The independent films will still be housed at Century Cinema and they have applied for a liquor license," the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce told Patch in a statement. "The plans will be included with the Clark Street Task Force as part of the strategy to help attract new business to Century Cinema and the Clark Street corridor. The plans should be made public shortly regarding the details of the addition of dining and the build out as they go through the community process for development."

Some of its only tenants in the almost 170,000-square-foot shopping center include the theater, Aveda Institute, CVS Pharmacy, Victoria’s Secret and LA Fitness on the top floors. The building was sold for $18.5 million in 2011 to Bon Aviv Investments, a venture with two Isreal-based backers, RE Journals reports.

And although local officials are aware of the major renovation planned for Century Cinema, the parent company, Landmark Theatres, is still intent on keeping everyone in the dark.

Ald. Tom Tunney’s (44th) office and South East Lake View Neighbors all say they’ve been kept in the dark about the project’s details.

“I do not have very much information other than Century Cinema will be undergoing a renovation,” said SELVN President Jan Sumrall. “My understanding is that the intent is to provide a combined ‘dining and movie experience’ which would include the sale of food and liquor.”

Representatives with the cinema, which primarily screens independent films, are planning a presentation at SELVN’s April meeting. Multiple calls and emails to Landmark regarding to project were left unanswered after initially receiving word that a statement would be issued to Patch.

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And this isn’t the first major renovation planned for the theater with a history dating back to 1924. According to Cinema Treasures, the theater initially opened as Diversey Theater before renaming itself the Century, in honor of the Century of Progress World’s Fair in 1933.

In 1973, the cinema was closed and gutted for a remodeling project, and then rebuilt as a shopping mall as it’s know today, Cinema Treasures writes. In 2000, the top floors of the mall were handed over to Landmark Theatres to create the theater it is today.

Patch will follow the story as updates on the renovation become available.