Chicago Deputy Mayor Steve Koch was among the speakers Thursday at a street-naming ceremony that honored the late Nikolaos “Nick” Mirkopoulos, the visionary owner of Cinespace Studios that transformed Chicago’s film industry and the studios’ North Lawndale neighborhood.
The two blocks, from Rockwell and 16th St., were given the honorary street name of “Nikolaos “Nick” Mirkopoulos Way
“Nick Mirkopoulos had a vision for the entertainment production sector of Chicago and we owe him a great debt,” said Koch. “So it’s only fitting for our city to recognize Nick’s contributions today with this street dedication.”
Koch spoke at the ceremony along with Ald. Jason Ervin, Teamsters 727’s John Coli, Sr., Local 476’s Mark Hogan, former Gov. Pat Quinn, Jim Mirkopoulos, president of Cinespace Toronto Studios and Alex Pissios, president of Cinespace Chicago.
Just before 11 a.m. the four network TV shows filming at Cinespace took a 20-minute break so that their casts and crews could also pay tribute to Mr. Mirkopoulos, who died in December, 2013 after a short illness.
Pissios commented on his uncle seeing the potential of the former Ryerson Steel plant as a film production center — “But more importantly, he recognized the great potential of the people of Chicago, our talented and motivated film and television crews that were underutilized working on just a few projects a year.”
His uncle’s vision, personality and business acumen “helped take Illinois production revenues from $25 million a year in 2009 to more than $350 Million in 2013. We surpassed that number in 2014, and will surpass it again in 2015,” Pissios said.
Mark Hogan, who’s Local 476 gave Mr. Mirkopoulos one of its prestigious Gold Cards, said his impact on the industry “has been immeasurable, especially on our crews and their families, and will be felt for years to come. I’m very proud to have known him and worked with him on this pivotal project, one that has given our industry an incredible boost.”
View ReelChicago’s Facebook photo album of the event here.
