The Rialto Theater
209-211 North Michigan Street
ABOUT THE BUILDING
The Rialto Theater, which is located at 209-211 North Michigan Street, was built in 1917 by architect Jacob Ness. The theater’s owner, Clay Metsker, paid $87,000 for the functional building to be constructed. The building’s focal point was its beautiful marque, which changed throughout the theater’s 14 years of operation. The building’s north bay was occupied by Gus Gavalus’s Kewpie Sandwich Shop. Not only was Kewpie’s a popular diner, but it also served as the theater’s concession stand. Later tenets of the Rialto Theater included Sherwin-Williams Paints and Merle Norman Cosmetics. Currently, the Rialto Theater is for sale. The pictures to the right show the two different marquees that were the building's focal point during its time as a theater.
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