We recently went here last weekend and had a date night and saw one of my honey’s favorite Ricky Skaggs. It was a very nice queen to theater. Everyone was so friendly reasonably priced tickets and we had front row tickets we purchased 4 days before. Free parking and a nice walk downtown to the theater. It sounded great. The lighting was good. We just had overall great time.
A magnificent place, excellent acoustics, a pleasure to work with, an appreciative, emotional audience. It was here that we first met Uli Don Roth. Theater on the first floor, bars, etc. Up on the second floor, fantastic bars, beautiful unisex bathrooms, wonderful decor. Was on the third floor where the speakeasy is located with a 30s style bar counter. I like this place, moreover, I was very inspired by everyone, so much so that the guitar sounded heavenly! The parking was okay. Absolute admiration!
Great Venue! Saw Everclear and Capra Brothers! Sound is Great! Drinks reasonably priced. Beautiful inside and out. Loved the owner came out did star spangled banner. Support and love for our Service members and country makes us definitely wanna come back. Blessed to have a venue like this in IL. St. Charles has a lot of charm in downtown. Wife and I had a blast!
Beautiful venue! I saw Matteo Bocelli which was phenomenal! Seating inside and very accessible as it’s located on the first floor with no stairs. Balcony seating available as well for some events. The staff is kind and attentive. It is a very intimate venue which I enjoy for music. Lots of restaurants nearby. Free garages and multiple parking lots nearby. Located right downtown St. Charles.
Great venue for the Strangelove Depeche Mode Tribute Band. Wish they’d have either cancelled A Flock of Seagulls or had them as the opening act as the lead singer lost his voice unfortunately. Definitely felt uncomfortable with the national anthem video and asking everyone to stand while watching a video of white people and the American flag. Talk about pushing an agenda!
LOVED LOVED LOVED this place! I came to see The Liverpool Legends- a Beatles tribute band- and had such an amazing time! I loved how spacious and warm and welcoming the main theatre felt. I liked the worn-out feel mixed with modern media like so many memories were made here. Seeing Priscilla Presley was surreal, and even more so seeing so many people “Come Together” and share a once in a life time experience going back in time to see The Beatles.
One of the best venues in the western suburbs. Staff is always friendly and this is a great place to bring kids for a concert. The sound is good, but not too loud (Although I would still recommend ear plugs). Visit the restaurant upstairs for a one-of-a-kind speakeasy experience. I have been to three shows here and keep it on my list to catch a show if they have an artist that I am interested in on their schedule.
Went to Arcada for the first time this evening to hear Hotel California, an Eagles Tribute band.Very disappointed in the quality of the music.Way too loud. Guitar sounds were screeching.We left after 3 or 4th song. Our friends after the next one.The acoustics were horrible, in addition to the loud sound.The Arvada personnel acknowledged all the bands are loud, “ there’s nothing we can do, it’s up to the groups.”We will not ever attend another Hotel California concert.Will give Arcada another chance - maybe.
Uriah Heep and Saxon! Killer sound. Staff was friendly and efficient. Bar was stocked. Drinks were cold. Venue was clean and very well maintained! Cool place overall. Parking sucked
Recently saw Uli Jon Roth: the sound was great the people were great. A gem of a venue. Multiple bars, great service...and multiple bathrooms. Before the show began the MC played the Star Spangled Banner and held up the flag. What a classy organization-loved it.
Great night with SmithField opening for Josh Turner! Josh and his band put on a great show!SmithField was entertaining, have beautiful voices, and sang a mix of their own as well as the songs of other country artists.Josh and the band appeared to be having as much fun as we were. They sang a great mix of songs, and ended with some true favorites! A great evening in this small, unique venue.It is always nice to see Ron Onesti welcome the audience, and have the live performance started with the National Anthem! A great tradition I hope never ends!
We saw the greatest piano Man at the Arcadia theater and had a wonderful time. The theater is beautiful. Every seat in the house is good and the staff were friendly and theres good acoustics in the theater for concerts. Would recommend this for anyone.
More expensive than Chicago theaters. Hamms Beer was $9 for a small plastic cup. Popcorn was $6 in a brown paper bag. The tickets for a cover band ended up being around $45 each. The chairs towards the front of the theater were uncomfortable chairs like you would sit on at a wedding reception but they were so close together that you were on top of the person next to you. Overall not a great experience at the theater even though the band was great.
My wife and I have seen 2 shows here and really enjoyed our experiences. We saw Uli Jon Roth and John 5 and had the best times ever. Very chill vibes, and friendly staff. Super nice venue and you dont have to drive into Chicago. Good parking, easy in and out. We plan on returning for more shows.
Stayed in expensive hotel in town and made before show dinner reservations for a planned fathers day date night to see Tower of Power. Informed by theater website that door open 7.30 show at 8. We got to restaurant a little late because we were enjoying our day and kind of rushed through dinner and a fantastic bottle of wine to make it to theater by 8pm. Being a first time visitor I was very impressed by the beautiful facility, friendly staff and quick consession service. At exactly 8pm the lights went down and a local singer songwriter came on stage. First couple of songs are ok but you paid your money to see the headliner and as he continues everyone is growing impatient and he continues to play for 45 minutes to the point of boredom. This was not an experienced up and coming national touring act but a local pub entertainer. After a sense of relief when his set ended at 8.45pm we were made to wait for another half hour until 9.15 for Tower of Power to walk out on a stage that was completely set and ready to go since we walked into the theater. I feel that this showed a total lack of respect for the audience. In addition after a fantastic 90 minute concert we exit the concert hall reeady to enjoy the evening and find that the speakeasy and other bars included in the facility and advertized as part of the experience of attending the theater are all now closed. Very disappointing. Wouldn’t it make much more business sense to start the 90 minute concert at 8pm til 9.30 pm and have the audience continue to spend money in your venue until 11pm. Instead of frustrating them by making them wait for 11/2 hrs to see the act they paid to see.otherwise let them know the show starting time so they can plan accordingly.
I hate to do this since theres already so much negativity in the world, but I must write this to inform potential attendees of this historic venue so they know what theyre getting into should they plan to attend the Arcada Theater in the future.My wife and I saw Creedence Revived, a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band, this past Friday at the Arcada Theater. As a musician and someone who played guitar in a cover band and performed a few CCR songs, I was stoked.The opening act, a husband and wife duo, played acoustic songs for about 45 minutes and sounded great. But I couldnt wait to hear some CCR songs.When the CCR tribute band came on stage and played their first notes to their opening song, my ears were assaulted by the loudest sound I had ever heard. It was as if I were standing underneath an F-16 fighter jet while it was taking off. As mentioned, Im a musician and used to loud music. Par for the course. But this was on a whole different level loud.My wife and I instantly looked at one another with panicked faces. Fifteen seconds later, we rose from our 4th row (more expensive) seats and headed to the last row in the back of the venue to empty (cheaper) seats to escape the booming sound, hoping it would be quieter. It wasnt. Frustrated, we scrambled out of those seats and headed up to the balcony farther away from the stage, where we spotted an empty row of seats. We sat but could not escape the ear-busting sound as the group played their second song. Any hope of the band or the theaters sound engineer turning down the music was over. They werent going to.We then left the theaters main room and sat in the balcony lobby near the restrooms. It was a tad bit quieter there, but not by much. The music was still way too loud. We felt like we were in an adult timeout - wanting to be inside the theater, up close, watching and enjoying the band and the incredible catalog of songs from a great seat close to the stage. Instead, we were forced to sit outside the theater in a lobby, cupping our ears not to damage our hearing. Interestingly, a worker - who shall remain nameless - said this is typical at this theater. With any band that plugs in. For some reason, ownership/management believes that music is played best when its played loudest. (To support this . . . at the beginning of the show, the venues owner, in a taped video message welcoming people to the theater, said he hopes the band blows the roof off the place. Well, they did! In the process, also blowing out several paid attendees...) But I respectfully disagree. Great music doesnt mean loud music. Thats Garage Band 101.My wife and I were not the only defectors who left. We counted eight others who bolted from the theater, claiming the music was too loud.I admit the musicians making up the band were highly skilled. But the rhythm section (bass and drums) was overpowering, creating much of the noise. The lead singer who played John Fogertys role had a voice much like Johns unique voice, but the sound system drowned it out. We could not make out any words. It shouldnt have to be like this. All the band or the theater needed to do was reduce the volume.As I said before, I wanted to write this review so that others could be aware of the situation before purchasing tickets.
We went to the Arcada theater on May 7th 2022 to see the show with Sumo Cyco, Blacktop Mojo and Buckcherry. The theater is located in downtown St. Charles and its a pretty small venue. I believe it has about 900 seats. I had purchased two handicapped seats and two regular seats since I am in a wheelchair. The staff could not have been anymore friendly. They were awesome! They brought me to my seat which was actually a very good seat but it was completely opposite side of the theater as my two sons. So one of the ushers asked security if it was okay that my husband and I went to join my sons on the other side of the theater so we can experience our favorite group Blacktop Mojo together. They were so kind to allow it and got me right on the edge of the stage. So not only did I get to see my sons but I also got to see the show right up front! Everybody, the whole night was very accommodating to me and bent over backwards to make sure that I was comfortable. The show was great. Wed actually saw the exact show the week before at a different venue, The Des Plaines theater, which I believed is owned by the same corporation. However, the sound and atmosphere at the Arcada was actually better. We had a great night and I would not hesitate to get to see another show there
One of the gems of the greater Chicago area for concerts. The venue keeps improving from upgrades and renovations all the time, too! The owner/manager really made this place special. I wish I lived closer. Great audio, great views, friendly staff, and in a cool city!
8/14/23 Ted Nugent with Hillbilly Vegas. Awsome show!A few gripes, but before I get to that I want to say that I live in the area and have been coming for many years.Showed up right after work and had a 2 folder I carry every day that security made such a huge deal out of youd think I came in with a ninja sword. Ok fine, its Rons joynt.. I will respect and comply. So I walked the 3 blocks and put my weapon in my car. Now mind you Im a 54 year old cracker of 56. Not a huge threat..but ok I will play along.I go through security once more and Im in line to buy a $10 draft..guess what? In front of me is a whole crew of local 1%er bikers in full cuts and all are sporting huge folding and fixed blade knives. REALLY!#$&?Ive got no issues with bikers, this MC frequents a number of local places Ive been to. I do have an issue with HYPROCRACY and SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT of the rules.Also see pix of large ceiling tile thats about ready to fall down on some unsuspecting patrons..say lawsuit.
Lots of atmosphere in historic and cool building. Fun shows. Check out the upstairs Speakeasy.Easy parking, prices very reasonable,Great asset to St Charles.Grab dinner before show and bar hop after.
Beautiful Venue! Well kept and clean, not a bad seat in the house! The staff was friendly and helpful. Will come back for more shows!
Had our first visit to this venue for a concert featuring The Grass Roots and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap on 3/8/2020. I would definitely visit this venue again as its quite small (897 seats) and it didnt appear there was a bad seat in the house! We had an early dinner at the Arcada Club restaurant on the third floor of the building and just walked downstairs to our concert. Free parking in the local parking deck just a block away!! Couldnt ask for more!!!
This is my new favorite venue. I see bands all the time but the sound here and a staff was exceptional. We had a great time watching a band called hairball and a band called gooroos. Highly recommend checking this place out. You wont be disappointed. Not to mention their lineup is nothing but All Star all year.
Thank you Ron and staff for a fabulous show last night. Our House was awesome and brought back a lot of CSNY memories!!! see you Thursday on Taylor Street!!
Love the history here, love the architecture. But the layout is way too tight, no room to walk, stand or especially dance. Bathrooms are tiny, mens have 3 urinals and 2 stalls for all 500+ people. All of that is tolerable to see shows and experience the sound in there, if it werent for the security guys. They are excessively aggressive and personally invasive. If this reflects the future of the theater, then I predict its in trouble cause fans and bands wont want to come here.
Saw a great show here. There are many other floors and other events happening here, too many to describe now, but an awesome place!
We visited for a murder mystery dinner which included dinner and the murder mystery. It was my first time there. The dinner was delicious even thought they must have pumped out a ton of food quickly. Their was not an open seat in the restaurant due to the event but there was a man singing Frank Sinatra during our meal. The decor was fun and tasteful.We then headed down to the theater for our murder mystery portion. This was a lot of fun as well and very interactive. There were staff who helped guide us but largely audience driven and participation. What a wonderful night!
Arcadia Theatre was amazing and beautiful! Took mother there to see Dion Warwick and had a ball! Beautiful inside and out! So much to see and main acts so check out there wesite!
This older theatre is a great place to see a show - every seat is good.I like the fact that you can have a beverage and snack at your seat. Smaller bathrooms make the lines longer, I managed that by not waiting until intermission. We thought drinks were on the high side @ $14.50 for 1 mixed drink and one soda. All in all a very good time, easy to find, accessible - free parking. CTA (Danny Seraphine) as headliner and The Buckinghams. It was a great show. Its all good.
Great place ! The seats need to be replaced they are awful unless you get a balcony side seats in a real chair , also they had a wedding going on at the same time why would you book a wedding on concert night parking is first come first in no real direction on where to park your car
Incredible theater, I cant wait to come back! We traveled from Iowa for a concert and would come back in a heartbeat. We arrived early and Al, one of the volunteer ushers, gave us a quick tour of the theater. He was kind, funny, and knowledgeable. Drinks were pretty pricy but the bartenders were fun and the hurricane was delish! The speakeasy was beautiful, were looking forward to making reservations for dinner someday!
Beautiful venue in downtown St. Charles boasting indoor restaurants and a nightclub. Friendly staff. Very comfortable atmosphere. Nice acoustics on main stage. Due to weight, my chair was uncomfortable. They offer other areas with better seating. Make sure you check their seating charts or call them to inquire about bigger seats. Great neighborhood. Lots of bars and restaurants. This will be my summer hangout.
My wife and I have seen several shows at this historic theater. I highly recommend catching a show or dining at the speakeasy.
This really is a very nice place to see a show and Im so happy we have it here in St Charles! They are bringing great names through this place. Ticket prices are usually reasonable. They are working on cleaning it up inside and it looks good. Only 4 stars as I think the PA system needs some attention. I have been in several locations inside and it seems like they cant get the mains loud enough to mix appropriately with the onstage volume.Always a good time at this venue though!
Always a great venue for performances . Have been here numerous times for shows. Parking always a problem but easy to park within a few blocks
Great venue!!! Ron Onesti, the owner, is a cross between P. T. Barnum and George M.Cohan. I say that in a COMPLETELY COMPLIMENTARY way!! Hes GREAT!
Love! Love! Love Club Arcada! Located above the theatre. Looking for something different to do then checkout this place. When you enter you are greeted by bell hop that takes you through a secret passageway to the restaurant . The whole place is transformed into the prohibition days. From the flapper dresses to the decor you feel like you stepped off a time machine . Food, drinks and service are TOP NOTCH!! They also have great entertainment on the weekends so checkout the website for more info
Awesome! FREE STREET PARKING!This is a long drive for me, but one of the best places to see a concert. Ron Onesti goes out of his way to bring the best bands, food and overall experience. I highly recommend this theater.
Food was perfectly cooked. The atmosphere was amazing, really get the old 1920 feel. Designed like a speakeasy. The band playing was the flat cats and they were amazing, not only do they sound like they fit in the time (and with perfection) but they were really nice, genuine people. I spoke with them before their second set and proposed to my now fiance (she said yes) but they brought me up on stage so I could do it with everyone watching. Thank you Arcada for the most magical night!
Beautiful theater with great range of interest, silent movies, tribute bands, and in person performers. Something for everyone. Just visit and pick your venue.
I went to the recent strangelove / flock of seagulls show; strangelove was great however flock of seagulls’ singer was apparently sick and couldn’t sing so arcada tried to put one over the audience by letting the band do a “sing along”. By sing along, the bass player tried to sing some of the songs but 1. He couldnt sing and 2 didnt know the words. I didnt play $73 for a “sing along”. Either someone should have let strangelove play an extra set or given us our money back knowing seagulls couldn’t perform. Ive going to shows of all types for 30+ years and never experienced anything as laughable as this. I called Arcada the next day and asked for an explanation and/ or money back, of course no one bothered to call me back. If this is how Arcada rolls i wont be going back. Ever. Very disappointed.
Its like a nostalgic walk back into time. The best part for me was hearing the forgotten music from the 1920s and 1930s. I love the atmosphere and the special rooms dedicated to Chaplin and Harlow. I only wish there was a Joan Blondell and Dick Powell photo in there. The dining room reminds me of a old night club from an old movie with Fannie Brice or perhaps Mae West. The food was very good, and very reasonable. I dont like riding elevators though. Next time I would like to walk the stairs. Cant wait to go back again soon!
Didnt tell us that Asia wasnt hitting the stage until close to 10pm on a Tuesday and its hotter than Hell in the balcony. This sucks. I wont be back with tickets being over $100.
Great sound, friendly staff but wish they had little tables with 2 -4 chairs around it on the first floor. Would be much easier if you get drinks
1st time here since renovations. Speakers are upgraded. Glanced at the new pizza /popcorn place, ducked into the dining room (it wasnt open at 3pm), saw the speakeasy and husby said the bathroom was upgraded. We were at the Windy City Elvis impersonator contest for a $3500 purse. The show was ok I expected more polish. It IS nice to have a live music stage nearby.
Arcade Theatre is a small quaint place. Went to go see Artimus Pyle Ultimate Tribute to Ronnie Van Zants Lynyrd Skynard. Was there on Fri. 10/20/2017. Artimus (drummer) was one of 3 survivors from the Band, Lynyard Skyard that was in an airplane crash. The plane went down 40yrs. to the date that Artimus played at the Arcada Theatre. Fantastic show, emotional as well. After the show he sat on the stage and told the whole story of that fatal night. Just an fyi, Aerosmith were suppose to board the plane. They turned it down, they felt it looked unsafe! WOW!!! After the concert there was a surprise meet and greet. Awesome!The Arcada Theatre is very old. Was suppose to be demolished, till the new owner started bring it back to life. Loved the size for a venue. Took some pics to show how beautiful this old place is. The man that bought the Theatre made himself present the whole time we were there. I find that very hands on, which is great. I had full stats on the Arcada, which I seem to have misplaced. It was very interesting! If you get a chance to see a concert there, please do!
Omg I have to send a big big thank you to Rochelle who awarded me and my wife a free dinner and upgraded seating to 4th row center, even though the dinner was free it was a awesome dinner thank you Ron and Rochelle, kks priest and the other bands were great 👍 perfect night out, and the steak was so tender it was delicious and the staff was awesome
This is the best place in the area to see live music! Every seat in the house has a great view. The sound is awesome. The room is beautiful. The staff is friendly. And theres a Speakeasy and Pizza place right on site for pre or post show fun. Plenty of free parking around the venue.
We had an excellent time, Dinner was amazing up on the 3rd floor. Lilac did a great job opening for John 5. It was an amazing show, and Arcada is an awesome venue
I took my two young granddaughters to the princess tea. In my opinion, it was poorly planned from the entrance, where we had to wait in a lengthy line to board an overcrowded elevator to the lack of communication during the event. Initially people were not allowed to use the stairs, but eventually they did allow it. I believe there were way too many people for the space. Tables and chairs were jammed close together. The food table was set up for people to go one way so the line was ridiculously long, especially considering the event catered to children. The food was good, but obviously the teapot had been sitting on the table for quite a while, and were lukewarm at best. I expected someone to come out and explain how the event Would roll out but no one did. There was a table with raffle prices, but it wasn’t until an hour into the event that someone started coming around, selling the raffle tickets. My granddaughters, who usually really get into princess events? Asked to leave after they had eaten. I didn’t even realize there would be actresses coming in later portraying different princesses. Overall, it was a big disappointment. The only reason I gave three stars is because it is a beautiful venue.
Always a good time. Beautiful space. Sometimes the food is really sad, and other times its pretty good but they could use help in the kitchen. My previous visits have been great when it comes to drinks but I think theyve had lots of turn over because the drinks arent as good. Events are fun.
Probably my tenth time here today was to see the Little River Band. Tomorrow I shall return to watch Metal Church, and possibly come back in a couple weeks for the Winery Dogs. Ron takes personal care of his guests and greets everyone at the door. The venue is intimate, not any bad seats here. The bar has a decent selection of beers and spirits (not sure about wines). I will be back many more times!
Always amazing shows! Hope Ron Onesti continues to bring such terrific talent to his stages!
Took the family to see Sabbath and Thunderstruck. What a great time. The Acada is a great place to see a show. We get seats on the upper balcony. The sound is great. I have never felt nervous about bringing my kids either.2/19/2022 Went back tonight to see the Four Horsemen. What a great show. And the renovations the Acada did over the covid break are great! Awesome place to see a show.
Nice small venue makes for a very personal feel. Sound was good. Nice size drinks. Id def go back & want to ck out the speak easy upstairs. For those complaining about small bathrooms, yes the womans upstairs balcony only has 2 stalls. Knowing this ahead of time, dont wait till the the minute to go. Ive been to large venues with more bathroom stalls & waited longer during intermission to use the bathroom. The owner did state their remodeling & will have more bathroom stalls.
Paid over $100 to see Marshall Tucker Band...opening act over 30 mins!!! Not advertised not happy...they are mediocre at best!
We went to a dance performance here, and the theater itself is very vintage and unique. I give it 4 stars only because the seating is very old and outdated, and the place could use a wee bit of a face lift - but the theater concept is wonderful! They had a bar you could frequent just outside of the theater seating as well as one in the waiting area near the concessions. Theres a second floor with some great memorabilia that i would love to adventure about and take a closer look. The acoustics of the show were wonderful and had more of a smaller, intimate group. Not thousands of attendees, which was wonderful for easy entrance. Parking is right around the area in Downtown St. Charles and easy to access, free. There are so many great restaurants located right nearby. Id love to see more shows here and see more people visit! Such a great concept in the downtown area.
Came here for an event, the food was great and the service was amazing. Had a really good experience! Will use this space in the future, very impressed!
Havent been there since before covid, they remodeled the interior, it looks nice, and still great live music.
I saw the John Lennon show and sat in the balcony. The show was very good.The seats were good. The theater is amazing. I took a tour of the speak easy bar and restaurant. Everything looked very nice. I plan on having dinner before the show next time I go. The employees were very helpful and nice.
Beautiful vintage venue. Lots of things on the walls to see. Has restaurant & liquor. Parking is on the street, which could be a challenge. Audience was well-behaved (went to a concert at Allstate Arena a few years back and got walked on and tripped over by all the people constantly coming and going from their seats to buy liquor).
Applause abounds for a fun variety of entertainment. Lobby area gets congested prior to show time. They could use a better system in that regard. Seems to be a continuous plan to update and upkeep this roaring 20s theater. Kudos for trying to be timely and accommodating. Main center floor seating uses standard chairs, while the remaining seats utilize theater flip down seats. Acoustics/sound quality needs improvement. The instruments are loud and drown out the singer(s). Instrumental sound should compliment, not compete with the song performer. Visit their restaurant upstairs after a mid day show or choose from many area restaurants within walking distance.
Speak easy lounge upstairs very cool. With live music
It was not what I expected entertainment wise, but it was fun. The food was ok. The ambiance was cute.
Great venue. Drinks are pricey so come prepared, but the food options seem great. Theres plenty of other food in St Charles close by though. The sound is almost always top notch, and lighting is great. If you cant get close seating the upstairs almost sounds better sometimes. Enjoy the show guys.
Ive seen 2 concerts here now. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Some seats are more comfortable than others. Arrive early for parking around the theater. Definitely recommend seats in the middle section for best sound mix.
Came here in May 2022 to see Michael Bolton concert (was supposed to see him in April 2020 as an early birthday present but it ended up getting delayed again and again until May 2022, so the concert ended up being a 29th birthday present instead of a 27th birthday present). Had a blast. Michael sang some of my favorite songs, and they even played a bit of Go The Distance from Hercules (my top favorite of all of Michael Bolton’s songs) as the intro. I was a little miffed at the delays, and at one point I was a little worried it would get canceled altogether, but it was well worth the wait in the end. I hope I get to come to this venue again someday.
Two strikes youre out. Bought three front row tickets for over $125 a ticket. On the night of the concert, three extra rows of plastic chairs were placed in front of me. Really?Also had dinner reservations at the speakeasy before a concert. Speakeasy decided to just cancel the reservations for no reason.Theyre just money hungry.I would avoid this Theater.
This place is the best place to go for a show Ryan is doing an outstanding job there love the Speakeasy the food here is excellent will be back
A fine old theater! I loved performing at the Arcada, the acoustics are good, the management is great, and theyve done a nice job of bringing this Lady back to life. Parking is very convenient in the garage next door. Food and beverages are available.
Needs Updating BAD. Two tiny bathroom stalls for the women and a line 12+ people long to get in. 1 bar with no set line to get drinks. Again a crazy line with 12+ people in line. Ushers dont stop the people from rushing the stage and blocking peoples view who paid a premium to sit there. Ushers not stopping people from talking loud during the concert to the point that those around the loud drunks in the back had to move to hear the concert. The mics for the first 20 minutes of the show didnt work right so you couldnt hear the singers well. Lighting was horrible when the artists moved around the stage you couldnt see them well in the corner of the stage. The air conditioning wasnt working well and fans were set up in the front. The 3 Elvis tribute artists were great along with the Fabulous Ambassador back up band. Hope the new owners put some $ into fixing this beautiful theater to attract the talent and patrons to keep it afloat.
Im 54 years old, live in Minnesota love music and just happened to find out on Facebook Accept ( my absolutely favorite band) was playing the Arcada, I found one ticket fairly close to the stage so I bought it, while surfing theyre website, I was astounded to see some of the acts that play there. I work all genres of musical concerts in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and I attend over 100 shows a year, (usually within the 1st 5 rows. Well two days before the show, I spotted 2 tickets even closer and bought them, waited very patiently, wondering how on earth Ron and the Arcada Theatre pulled Accept in, one of only a couple North American dates. Well we hit the road and 6 hours later we pulled up, no problem parking at all and it was free,, ok, great, loved the Atmosphere as we entered , now I had 3 tix at will call and wonderfully, I was refunded one of my tickets (AWESOME) so I bought 2 Accept Shirts and an Arcada one, other than the sad fact I didnt see an email saying a meet and greet pass ( I inquired about one) was there for me until the next day when I got home, I met Ron, and wow,, what a class act man, I prefer the smaller more intimate venues, and Ron suggested the VIP package, and Ill tell ya, 12 hours round trip (to me) is worth a great show, band and experience, music is my life. When I saw Nazareth was coming there,,,, OMG I wish we werent so close to the holidays, Id buy that VIP, and prbably attend 15, 20,25 shows a year there. Ive told about every person I know about The Arcada and my INCREDIBLE experience with this place. Cant wait to road trip again, its like 3 concerts for me, 6 hours of rockin tunes each way and a concert Ill remember for life, Ive seen Pink Floyd, McCartney, Monsters of Rock in England, Queen, Kiss and many others, and I look forward to hopefully getting that VIP and continue attending. On a scale from 1 to 10, I give The Arcada a 100, and Accept,,,, see you in Pennsylvania, already have my ticket
Great old, smaller theater. Would definitely come back for another show!
This theater doesn’t have a bad seat in the house. Staff always helpful & pleasant.
Arcada is a beautiful theater, and the staff is always so friendly. Went to see the Bronx Wanderers from Las Vegas, and their show is awesome. Ive been to see them several times and always love the show. The Arcada has a wonderful variety of shows, and I love going there.
Awesome venue to see a band or other performer, there truly is not a bad seat in the house. Arcada is a throwback to old school concert halls like Metro, but with way better sightlines and a super friendly staff. Ron, the owner/promoter hangs out in the lobby and greets people! You can tell this guy loves what he does, loves the music, and puts his heart into this place. Bookmark them to keep up on upcoming shows.
Thank-You Ron and the ENTIRE staff at The Arcada!!! Its ALWAYS a great experience! Top notch acts in a small venue! We Love the new additions and watching the venue grow! Jack Russells Great White and Lita Ford were EXCELLENT! And the staff was AMAZING!!!! Kind and accommodating! We will be returning every chance we can!YOU ROCK🤘❤️
It was my first time here. The venue is nice and clean. However, the sound was not as crisp as in other places. The toilets were also clean. I give it 3 stars because of the sound. Maybe if I go back some other time, I will be able to experience other amenities they have.
Great venue for a show. Not a bad seat in the place and the sound system is typically great. The staff is friendly and the patrons are cool and there for a good time. Onesti brings good shows and the prices are reasonable and Ill keep on going there.
This is a great venue. I have seen several shows here and have never had a bad seat. Ron Onesti is an excellent host. He takes the time to interact with his guests. It is obvious that he is passionate about making sure everyone has a great time. Highly recommend!!
Just want to give a shout out regarding an issue with invalid tickets at the arcada…long story but because of all the problems etc they straightened everything out and gave us a discount on valid tickets. Very well played! Looking forward to the Beatles! Thank you!
Its a beautiful well taken care of 97 year old theater/Concert venue. The sound is just ok ..but the overall atmosphere for Eric Johnson was great. Im 61 and my old knees were hurting soon after the concert began. We did arrive an hour early though but all in all a wonderful time was had by the nearly filled venue.
Pros:Loved the atmosphere of the speakeasy. We went for Sinatra Sunday and had the Italian feast. The singer was very talented, the food was good. The bartender was very friendly!Cons:I didnt realize that the singer would be picking on people in the audience, making jokes about them, and asking them to come up and impersonate stars like Tom Jones and Tina Turner. Im shy and dont like being the center of attention, though I admit it was funny watching him pick on other people. We moved to the bar as soon as we finished eating to avoid being singled out. I would have preferred to just enjoy the singing.I didnt care for how all the pasta, meatballs, sausage and bread were crammed onto one plate. (The bread was soggy where it touched the sauce.) I thought each item would be in separate bowls, served family style.The cannoli was so tiny, like two bites. Not what I was expecting.
I attended the silent movie with a friend and had an uniquely enjoyable time, despite the theater folding chairs being super uncomfortable and somewhat of a distraction. The backing was metal with only a cloth covering (no padding) and the seat part had only a thin layer of padding under the cloth. There was an old/unclean smell in some areas, but tolerable. The live organist was great and really helped to enhance the dramatics of the silent movie. The crowd was older overall, quiet and respectable.The ushers were so courteous. Bob in particular couldnt have been more gracious and kind. Thank you Bob for being a cool usher and wonderful tour guide.
Very clean & nice venue. Seating is excellent in any section. Ticket prices on their own website is very reasonable for the great musicians that Ron Onesti brings into.Mixed drinks were made very good. I have been to both theaters. Scott, Rosie, Jim in security all excellent.
Great place to see a concert, intimate setting. Would go back again. There is a bar on both floors, and restaurant on main floor. However there is limited leg room in the seating. There was an inbalance of the music drowning out the vocals, not sure if that was a theater or band issue.
First Time HereWe saw Hairbangers Ball and special guest it was a great time however we had ppl standing and dancing in front of us so very disappointed to see. Overall a great time. We will know for next time we will be back…
Ate at Rock-n-Ravioli. Excellent food quality. Very friendly staff.Saw Zepparella - great venue.Surrounding area is nice and enjoyed a stroll past many cool statues.This was first visit and will definitely return!
Really cool theater with lots of smaller bars and clubs within the building, including a speak easy. Overall lots to see inside the building. Would come here for more than just shows in the theater but even some of the smaller rooms that have live music would be worth checking out.
One of the best experiences for local small venues. The owner celebrates military and first responders, which is a nice touch.The sound quality is good and the place offers seats for us old guys that need to relax in between the acts.In addition, there is a solid bar and even an are to play some pinball while waiting on the show. I havent yet attended the restaurant, but I look forward to thi in the future.
A smaller theater that we saw Wheel of Fortune Live at. Chairs not the most comfy, but good leg space between rows. Its a beautiful old theater.
Great place to see a show but needs some repairs. Had pieces of the ceiling or falling on me during a show and was very concerned about a couple of ceiling tiles hanging on by a thread. The staff there could learn a great deal about customer service as well.
We really wanted to enjoy our time at Club Arcada. I called and spoke to someone about the event ahead of time. I mentioned we wanted to attend the dinner and a show. They advised me to make a reservation around 6:30pm on top of the ticket purchase to ensure we have a table. Ok… We bought tickets for the Halloween event. At $65 per ticket, I was expecting to be impressed. We were NOT.First, we walked in with another couple that paid $20 for the exact same experience. I repeat they paid $20 for the entertainment fee. That got them access to everything offered to us. Where did that other $45 a person go? It wasn’t the food.Next, the food. Service was… odd. Our server was great! Let me repeat that too. Our server was great, but we sat at 6:45pm without food until 8:15pm. Nothing for an hour and a half. The other table we met, that paid the full price like us, said they sat at 6pm and didn’t see any food until 8:15pm as well. The “appetizer” was a large communal charcuterie. Any one could eat off of it. Cheese and meats were good. Quality was there, but then the salad came. No one should have sent those salads out of the kitchen. They were sad. Like 20 thin strips of lettuce/carrot drenched in flavorless dressing on a small B and B plate. Smaller than your average side salad. Entrees were served after 9pm. They were decent. Not great. For $130 that was bad.Now if I paid for an app, salads, and entrees for both of us, it would have saved me close to $50. Ohh and we could have eaten in a reasonable time.And, honestly most important was the complete lack of entertainment. The ad said the night would offer a fortune teller, raffles, trivia questions, a magician, and ghoulish treats. None of these things were offered. We got a band that was OK. That is it. The band and a gentleman walking around doing the same “Mentalist” act at every table. He was funny at least.Last, I wouldn’t have left this long review, but we have called all week to speak to someone from Onesti. We left voicemails, and even spoke to someone who promised a call back. Nothing after a full week.I have enjoyed myself in this establishment before, but this whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth literally and figuratively. I would avoid purchasing tickets to events like this in the future.
You have to be here toEnjoy the experience...... Ive lived here my entire life arcade is awesome
Cool little theater, I believe it holds less than 1000. Kind of a weird bathroom situation (small and not many, with 1 having an open toilet next to a urinal and no divider). Looks like a mini Chicago Theater, hope to go again.
This recently remodeled venue has comfortable seats, 50s, 70s, and 20s bar venues, and great acoustics and solid lighting. We saw a Tom Petty cover band here (Free Falln). It was a great time with wonderfully conscientious service. Well be back.
Great show. Rocked the house. 2 issues though, too loud and too much bass. We saw the Echoes of Pompeii. Rattled the walls. Great laser light show though. Had seats about 12 rows back from the stage in the middle of the floor. Could not hear the singer over the bass. May see again.
Always a great time to go for entertainment. Plenty of excellent restaurants. Then the venue has been restored to its former glory. Staff is welcoming. And musical acts are spectacular. If a cover band is playing, you can be sure that Arcada picked the best of the best in cover bands.
If I could give this place 1000 stars i would. Ron is absolutely such a amazing person i made a sign for my 18th birthday gift that was bret michaels tickets one of the band members seeing my sign and ron came and got me and my mom and let us go back stage. He is the most amazing person ever. Ron you are amazing thank you so much.
The venue is good, people attending not so much. If you want to get up and dance at a concert, this is not the place.Fat, lazy people pour water on floor to try to make you fall down. Not a good experience. CCR bans was excellent.
Old style venue with modern vibe. Never had a bad seat. great drinks, easy to find parking. Easy in and out.
Saw Jump , VanHalen cover band. They were outstanding, super David Lee Roth acrobatics and singing. Totally entertained this old fan.
We saw Foghat last night. The opening act, Rockhouse, blew away Foghat. But the whole show was over shadowed by an obnoxious security guard. He stood on my wing the whole Foghat set with a angry resting face, arms crossed and he was ready to pounce. Everybody up in the balcony was at least 65 y.o. There was no need for this hardass to even be present. Constant Big Brother vibe. I felt harassed like it was a police state. Not cool.Ron needs to fix this. And stop with the fake patriotism. Whats next? FAITH Night?
Decided to bring my teenage boys for their first concert Brett MichaelsSomebody screwed something up second song and the sound was so overbearing We had to walk out on the fourth song worried about serious eardamage. Im no stranger to rock and roll. This was dangerous loud almost unnoticeable songs. Ruined the first experience for all three of my boys.No return calls !!! No explanation !! How does this happen ? Small theater not the United Center
We flew in from utah to go to the Arcade theater to see both both April Wine and The Sweet!! We absolutely loved it. The people that work there are amazing !! My wife and I both had just the best time ever!! There are so many nice things to say !! 😌
Very nice Theatre I was last week there for the show ov Matteo Bocelli he was amazing but what impress me the most was the great organization for Mr Onesti he is wryly a nice humble person and love the Italian community and Id course we love him back ❤️🇮🇹👌
I used to like going to the Arcada for shows but that has been changing, especially in the last several concerts Ive attended there. The ushers do nothing to keep people out of the aisles. The last 5 shows Ive been to, people come up the aisles and block the views of other paying customers. This really sucks because the tickets arent cheap. Ron, you have a great venue but you have to address this growing problem.
First time there & really enjoyed the experience. All seats seem to offer a great view at very reasonable prices.Neighborhood had plenty of dining & socializing options pre/post show and easily found parking.
My husband and I have been coming for over a year. The shows are great. This time we had seats in front of a handicapped couple. Couldnt see anything and they kept moving the chairs close to us. We didnt have any legroom.
Great place to see a show! The recent upgrades are fantastic. Air conditioning & plenty of restroom access. I love that there really isnt a bad seat in the house, even the back row in the balcony. Good sound system and lighting as well. Free parking in parking garages across the bridge, within a short walking distance is also nice. The only reason its not 5 stars for me is the seats are a little cramped when capacity is full and you are unable to spread out a bit. I will definitely return for future shows. They always have some great classic rock tribute acts as well as the original classic artists come through often.
- Address:105 E Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174, United States
- Site:https://www.arcadalive.com/
- Phone:+1 630-962-7000
- Monday:10 AM–6 PM
- Tuesday:10 AM–6 PM
- Wednesday:10 AM–6 PM
- Thursday:10 AM–6 PM
- Friday:10 AM–10 PM
- Saturday:10 AM–10 PM
- Sunday:12–6 PM
- On-site services:Yes
- Live performances:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible car park:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet:Yes
- Bar on site:Yes
- Restaurant:Yes
- Toilets:Yes
- Wi-Fi:Yes
- Wi-Fi:Yes
- Family friendly:Yes
- LGBTQ+ friendly:Yes
- Transgender safe space:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
- Debit cards:Yes
- NFC mobile payments:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
- Good for kids:Yes
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