CBS Chicago: ICE Theater In Chatham Closes Its Doors After 15 Years

UPDATE: So basically since I didn't watch the video before I posted this story, Tucker said that a man claiming to be the new tenant of the Chatham 14 property said that the theaters will reopen in 10 days! Some kind of way today was floated but we shall see in the next few days!

[VIDEO] It's a respectable 15 years, but this hurts for sure. This story aired on CBS 2 this afternoon and Dorothy Tucker also takes a look at the shocking closure of the Chatham 14 theaters.

Don and Alisa Starks opened the theater back in 1997. Sources say in 2007 they partnered with businessman Michael Silver and that the partners are now in the middle of a financial dispute.

Signs on the door said the theater will reopen under new management.

Sources told CBS2 the Starks could be forced out of their share of the business. Community activists don’t want to see that.

I'm sure many of you are wondering what happened here? How did this theater find itself with an eviction notice on the doors and signs that said it will reopen under new management.

It's also very sad to find out that the Starks' may find themselves forced out of the business they created. What I accept is that this is business. We could get attached to the people who run the business but if they business isn't making any money then changes are made. In this case changes mean the original owners or management are forced out.

Hopefully the Chatham 14 is reopened and right now we can only speculate on how this is likely to happen. Now we know that there is a financial dispute between Silver and the Starks'. We also now know one reason there's an eviction notice over at the Chatham 14. From last Friday's Sun-Times article.

However the company frequently had trouble with the city for non-payment of amusement taxes and was in and out of court with assorted movie distributors.

Like I said, we can only speculate on what's going on. While we're speculating, the audience that would've went here to watch a movie such as Alex Cross (for you Tyler Perry fans) they instead have to go to theaters in the South Loop, Ford City, or even suburban Lansing, IL. Let's not forget there are also theaters in Chicago Ridge and Crestwood. Those are also nearby.

Whatever emerges, let's hope that this theater not only continues to serve the communities that it has previous with theaters in Englewood which are currently closed and Lawndale. Also let's hope they continue to employ people from the surrounding communities.