Congress Theater

The Congress Theater is a historic movie palace in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Fridstein and Company designed the building, which was constructed in 1925–1926 for the movie theater operator Lubliner and Trinz. It features ornate exterior and interior design work in a combination of the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance styles. The theater was designated a Chicago Landmark on July 10, 2002, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. In its heyday, the Congress Theater seated 2,904 moviegoers. The theater block also had 17 retail storefronts with 56 apartments above. In its later years as a live music venue it was described as holding about 4,500 people. For years the building was a popular concert venue. In April 2013 the city moved to close the theater over dozens of code and safety violations, and its liquor license was revoked the following month. It was a source of controversy due to issues such as liquor violations, a notoriously tough security team, and lax building upkeep. After more than a decade of ownership changes and stalled redevelopment plans, the City of Chicago announced in February 2026 that financing and approvals for a complete renovation of the complex were in place, with completion targeted for December 2027.