Eddie Carranza

The theater, at 6008 W. Irving Park Road, is celebrating a grand reopening with a triple-feature Friday.

From theater drama to traffic safety to marijuana sales, the Far Northwest Side had a tumultuous year.

The theater's manager said he's hoping to start serving alcohol "in the next month or so."

But alcohol sales are "the only way" to keep the Patio Theater open, the operator said Thursday.

Dennis Wolkowicz, who restored the Portage Theater a decade ago, will be the Patio's general manager.

Residents of the 38th Ward have until April 4 to register their opinion with Ald. Sposato's office.

The theater's management will not change after the theater changed hands for $2.5 million.

Charlie Burns and his team will to continue to operate the theater under a lease from its new owners.

Ald. Nicholas Sposato said earlier this month he would block a liquor license for the theater.

Ald. Nicholas Sposato said he opposed a plan to serve booze during shows at the Patio.

Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) said he was "suspicious" about the Patio's new owners.

The Portage Theater was dangerously overcrowded during a hip-hop show Saturday night, Ald. Arena said.

New owners plan to focus on just the movie theater and sell the residential and office/retail units.

The Patio Theater was up for sale for $2.9 million, and is under contract to another buyer.

Ald. John Arena (45th) said the owner and operator of the Portage Theater should be "on notice."