Established in 1937, the Liberty Theater has been an iconic location in Libertyville for generations. Since its closing in 2020, the subsequent vote by the village board to prevent demolition, and the pandemic, there has been confusion and debate over what the building’s future will be. Before its closing, the Liberty Theater was a prime location for high schoolers to hang out. Because of this, we interviewed a few students to see what they wanted the building to become and how it could impact the community. Within their different ideas, one thing is clear in the minds of teenagers: the Liberty needs to reopen and whether it opens as a theater or as something new, its nostalgic charm must remain. 

Concept 1: Senior Erin Benton, a former Liberty Theater employee, stated that the theater’s previous owner wanted to renovate the space. He wanted to have a single theater and a bar in the lobby. (Peyton Rodriguez)

Another idea for the old theater is to renovate it into a community or teen center where people can socialize. There could also be options to rent out bikes or other outdoor equipment. (Peyton Rodriguez)

Junior Ivey Shafer, who used to work at the Liberty Theater, thinks it would be good to make an auditorium-style theater on the first floor with a museum on the second floor. (Peyton Rodriguez)