Former far north suburban movie theater damaged in fire

ROUND LAKE BEACH (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Investigators are trying to determine what caused an abandoned movie theater in the far northern suburbs to catch on fire over the weekend.

According to the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, a person going by the former Regal Cinemas, located at 550 East Rollins, shortly before 8:30 p.m. Saturday spotted an orange light coming from the building.

Round Lake Beach Police first arrived on scene and while surveying the building, detected smoke. Shortly thereafter, the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and neighboring fire departments were called to put out the blaze.

Crews were able to locate the fire, elevating it to a second-alarm. Twenty more trucks from across the areas were called in to help.

Following multiple building searches, it was determined nobody was inside the structure.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about 40 minutes, the fire protection district said.  Nobody was injured.

The fire caused serious damage to the building, the fire protection said, and will remain shuttered.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The theater has been closed since February 2023 after bankruptcy forced parent company Cineworld to close 39 Regal Cinemas.

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