Waukegan Talk

Any one been by this or know more about it? Are the theaters showing current movies or live theater? Alderman Rivera mentions educational films shown there??


Banquet facility, theaters open in Fountain Square
$4.5 million project seats 500
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June 5, 2009
By LONG HWA-SHU Special to the News-Sun

WAUKEGAN -- A $4.5-million banquet hall with two theaters has opened at Fountain Square, the city's much-heralded redevelopment on the site of the former Lakehurst Mall off Route 43.

The 18,000-square-foot Milan Banquets & Theatres looks classy and elegant with an array of bejeweled chandeliers glistening in the banquet hall, the design of its carpeted floor suggesting Middle Eastern decor. The banquet hall can seat 500 people.




The 18,000 sq. ft. Milan Banquets and Theaters is located at 651 Lakehurst Rd. in Fountain Square Plaza in Waukegan.

Guests attending a grand opening last Thursday were treated to, among other goodies, samosa, a deep-fried pocket containing peas and potatoes, a Pakistani snack, reflecting the owners' Indian-Pakistani heritage.

"Milan means partnership for life in Urdu (the literary language of Pakistan). It can also mean the finding of a long-lost friend," explained Eijaz Samad, majority owner who is in partnership with four others for the venture.

Samad, who lives in Seattle, immigrated to the United States in 1967 after attending a college in England studying refrigeration engineering. He owns a company in Monroe, Wash., specializing in that field.

"There's a need for a facility like this in this affluent area for banquets, weddings and conferences," Samad said.

The movie theaters, one with seating for 190 people, and the other for 150, will show international films beginning in July.

"It's awesome to have international cultural and educational films shown here," said Ald. Rafael Rivera whose 9th Ward includes Fountain Square.

The new facility, he said, offers a great balance to the businesses already there, referring to Wal-Mart, the two new hotels and Sundance Saloon.

"There's no banquet facility of this caliber around," said Ghazala Kazmi of Lake Bluff, a retired physics professor at McHenry Community College, who is Samad's sister.

She and her husband, Mohammad, an accountant, are partners in the venture. Other partners present at the grand opening included Rizwan Haider, an electrical engineer with Texas Instruments in Dallas, and his brother, Khalid, of Lincolnwood.

"There are three of us, all brothers, who are investors," said Rizwan Haider.

Although Ghazala Kazim could not say how many Pakistanis and Indians live in Lake County, she said the population is "mushrooming."

According to Sharon Szubinski, general manager, the banquet hall has been booked for two weddings and two parties.

"They were booked before we even opened, and that's pretty good," said Szubinski, former catering director at Gale Street Inn in Mundelein.

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Beautiful Banquet Hall and over all facility. Went to see the theaters, BUT it is not for American movies! Both Screens were playing Ethinic Indian movies in a language I don't understand. Ownership was friendly, and offered me chai (tea). So why not American movies? too many demands on the hollywood movie contracts and in-affordable prices, they said. They are looking into arranging some concerts for local bands later down the road in their banquet hall or in the huge parking lot they have. might be fun.. when it happens.

"There's no banquet facility of this caliber around," said Ghazala Kazmi of Lake Bluff, a retired physics professor at McHenry Community College, who is Samad's sister."

Are people who teach at a "Community College" really a "professor"? My brother taught a class at CLC. Does that mean he's a professor?

Danno Wrote:"There's no banquet facility of this caliber around," said Ghazala Kazmi of Lake Bluff, a retired physics professor at McHenry Community College, who is Samad's sister."

Are people who teach at a "Community College" really a "professor"? My brother taught a class at CLC. Does that mean he's a professor?

That's like calling the Denny's greeter a maitre d'

:lol: