The Belle Meade Theatre in Nashville,Tennessee is a bookstore now but still has the lobby,signboards,and vertical sign in place,the auditorium was torn down a few years ago.
The Plaza Theatre in Memphis TN and the Varsity Theatre in Palo Alto CA were both converted to bookstores. From the descriptions and comments, it sounds like some of the theatre detail remains, but I haven’t been to either one since the conversions.
The most famous theatre-to-bookstore conversion may be El Ateneo in Buenos Aires, Argentina , which looks like it should be spectacular.
I can think of two that became bookstores. 1) the Runnymede in Toronto which became a Chapters Bookstore which I think is still operating as such; picture here: View link and 2) The Alabama in Houston which was a BookStop until this past September, picture here: View link
I have not been able to locate any interior pictures, but the demolished Southtown in Chicago hung on as a department store; there was a picture in David Naylor’s book, “American Picture Palaces,” I think. Also in Chicago, the Calo is now a secondhand store. It’s hardly an elegant example, actually it is rather shabby, but you cannot miss the fact that it was a theater when you are in there.
Does anyone know of other theaters that have been adaptively reused like this, with the original decorative elements of the theater visible to the public? I can think of a few LA examples, but would like a long list to take to the next city meeting. Thanks.
Great piece regarding the movie house where I had my first date.
There is one correction in the attachment that should be noted. The Mrserole was never known as the Garden Theatre. That movie house was located across the street and just down the block. Due to, in large measure, the competition provided by the Meserole, the Garden did not survive the silent era, and was converted into a catering hall and bar. It is now an Indian Restaurant.
Very interesting in light of the fight over the Golden Gate in Los Angeles. CVS essentially wants to build a box within the building that will house the store (and presumably the historic elements of the building will be allowed to decay, unseen). Why not embrace the history and design of the building?
The Belle Meade Theatre in Nashville,Tennessee is a bookstore now but still has the lobby,signboards,and vertical sign in place,the auditorium was torn down a few years ago.
These are awesome, guys, thanks! And keep ‘em coming if anyone knows of more!
The Plaza Theatre in Memphis TN and the Varsity Theatre in Palo Alto CA were both converted to bookstores. From the descriptions and comments, it sounds like some of the theatre detail remains, but I haven’t been to either one since the conversions.
The most famous theatre-to-bookstore conversion may be El Ateneo in Buenos Aires, Argentina , which looks like it should be spectacular.
I can think of two that became bookstores. 1) the Runnymede in Toronto which became a Chapters Bookstore which I think is still operating as such; picture here: View link and 2) The Alabama in Houston which was a BookStop until this past September, picture here: View link
I have not been able to locate any interior pictures, but the demolished Southtown in Chicago hung on as a department store; there was a picture in David Naylor’s book, “American Picture Palaces,” I think. Also in Chicago, the Calo is now a secondhand store. It’s hardly an elegant example, actually it is rather shabby, but you cannot miss the fact that it was a theater when you are in there.
Does anyone know of other theaters that have been adaptively reused like this, with the original decorative elements of the theater visible to the public? I can think of a few LA examples, but would like a long list to take to the next city meeting. Thanks.
Great piece regarding the movie house where I had my first date.
There is one correction in the attachment that should be noted. The Mrserole was never known as the Garden Theatre. That movie house was located across the street and just down the block. Due to, in large measure, the competition provided by the Meserole, the Garden did not survive the silent era, and was converted into a catering hall and bar. It is now an Indian Restaurant.
This is a great story! It’s both instructive and inspirational.
I am just starting to get a similar effort going to try to save
and restore the CANARSIE THEATER, which you can also see listed in
CINEMA TREASURES. Please go to and read that article; there are many
comments listed there about that sister Brooklyn theater.
What an absolutely charming piece.
Very interesting in light of the fight over the Golden Gate in Los Angeles. CVS essentially wants to build a box within the building that will house the store (and presumably the historic elements of the building will be allowed to decay, unseen). Why not embrace the history and design of the building?