Avalon Regal Theater History
 

The Avalon Regal Theater traces its cultural lineage to Chicago’s historic Bronzeville, where the original Regal Theater stood as one of the most important African American entertainment venues in the nation during the early–mid 20th century. The Bronzeville Regal hosted legendary artists and became a cornerstone of Black cultural life in Chicago, symbolizing ownership, excellence, and artistic opportunity at a time when such spaces were rare.
 

When the Avalon Theater opened in 1927 at 1641 East 79th Street, it was designed by renowned architect John Eberson as an atmospheric theater, later evolving alongside the surrounding community. As South Shore became a center of Black homeownership and cultural life in the mid-20th century, the theater increasingly served African American audiences.

In 1987, the building was intentionally renamed the New Regal Theater to honor the legacy of the original Bronzeville Regal, explicitly linking the two institutions across neighborhoods and generations.
 

Today, the Avalon Regal Theater stands in South Shore as the only large-scale historic entertainment venue on Chicago’s South Side, continuing that legacy of Black cultural ownership and expression.

After acquiring the property in 2014, the current ownership inherited significant deferred maintenance and a long-standing building court case tied to prior conditions of the structure.

Over the ensuing years, the owners invested millions of dollars in emergency repairs, façade stabilization, and life-safety improvements, working closely with the City of Chicago and preservation experts.

These efforts culminated in the successful dismissal of a decades-old building court case in 2025, formally clearing a major legal and operational obstacle and positioning the property for interior restoration and reopening.
 

With exterior stabilization complete, the Avalon Regal Theater is now entering its next chapter—reclaiming its role as a cultural anchor for South Shore while serving as a regional and national destination just minutes from the Obama Presidential Center, scheduled to open in 2026.
 

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