The five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot brick Georgian-style house in northwest Evanston where the classic 1980s teen film “Sixteen Candles” was filmed sold in late June for $1.62 million — just $25,000 less than its asking price.
The late filmmaker John Hughes shot the 1984 coming-of-age comedy in his native northern suburbs during the summer of 1983. In the film, the Evanston Georgian, on Payne Street, stars as the family home of the main character, played by actress Molly Ringwald. Hughes shot numerous scenes from the film both inside and outside the home.
The house has had numerous owners since “Sixteen Candles” was filmed there. It sold for $905,000 in 2003, $1.25 million in 2006 and $1.13 million in 2018.
During the four years that they had owned it, the family who sold the house in June renovated it while trying to maintain its character, listing agent Emily Destefano told Elite Street. Those renovations explain the nearly $500,000 difference in the amount they paid for it in 2018 and the sale price that they reaped in 2022, she added.
Built in 1931, the home has four full bathrooms, two half baths, two fireplaces, a living room with plaster cast moldings, a kitchen with a breakfast room and new appliances, a recently renovated primary bedroom suite, a second-floor laundry, a finished attic with space for a media room, a rec room and an office, and a finished basement with a rec room and an exercise area.
Outside on the 0.3-acre property are an outdoor kitchen, a stone fireplace, an outdoor television and a whirlpool. The current owners also added a new slate roof, new windows on the first floor and air conditioning on the second floor.
The sellers first listed the house in April for $1.65 million.
The house had a $26,415 property tax bill in the 2021 tax year.
Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
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