The sight of work continuing at the Ready Theatre in downtown Niles caused some excitement Wednesday morning.

Pete Johnson, Jr., of Johnson’s Heating, said he had to stop work a few times as people asked what was going on.

“People are interested in it, there’s no doubt about that,” said the Hartford business owner.

Johnson built the Ready Theatre’s 3,550-pound marquee, which was installed in October of last year.

On Wednesday, Johnson was on a lift with a welder’s torch in hand, finishing the trim along the bottom of the red-and-yellow-framed sign.

“We are getting it painted and ready to go, making it look presentable,” he said.

The theatre opened in the 1920s and had a seating capacity of around 1,000 before it was divided into four screens. It closed in the mid 2000s and has been shuttered ever since.

Owner Carol Moore has said that she hopes to open the Ready as a venue for movies and live entertainment.

No concrete data has been set for it to re-open.