The Tivoli Theater is an iconic staple business of downtown Downers Grove, providing a cozy experience to those of all ages. Whether you’re going to see Paw Patrol as a 4 year old or Oppenheimer as a 40 year old, the Tivoli has something for everyone. Willis Johnson founded Classic Cinemas in 1978, creating a company centered around movies and family values. After his recent passing, the company is now in the hands of Chris Johnson, Willis’ son, who has been CEO since 2014.
“If anything it’s more pressure because anything I do I want to make sure I honor him with the end result,” Johnson said.
The Tivoli in downtown DG is a part of the company Classic Cinemas. They boast over fifteen locations and over 130 screens across those locations. The company’s priority is giving their customers, no matter who they are, a pleasurable experience.
“It’s your enjoyment that makes what we do meaningful, so we’ve created guest-friendly policies like playing fewer trailers, free refills, thank you mints and our 30 minute money-back guarantee with you in mind,” Classic Cinemas said.
Classic Cinemas is family owned. Running a family business allows for open discussion between business partners but it also comes with its difficulties.
“It’s rewarding from the standpoint that you’re given a lot of freedom but it’s challenging from the standpoint that you’re expected to outperform everything and work all the time so to speak,” Johnson said. “It’s productive but it’s very demanding.”
The beloved Tivoli in DG opened on Christmas Day in 1928, and its main theater holds over 1000 seats. It plays the unique role of a movie theater and performing arts center with its ability to host large amounts of people.
“The Taylor Swift movie is coming out and I was shocked because the opening night of the first showtime we already have 500-600 tickets sold which is crazy because most auditoriums anywhere only hold 100,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a massive event.”
Chris Johnson plans on continuing the legacy his father left and maintaining the core value of the company: giving families, couples, and people of all ages a chance to bond over the cinema.
