Terrace Theatre
3508 France Avenue N,
Robbinsdale,
MN
55422
3508 France Avenue N,
Robbinsdale,
MN
55422
12 people
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The new owner of the building is going to present a plan for the site to the Robbinsdale EDA, possibly as soon as the February meeting (2/13/07). If anyone has a desire to see it renovated now is the time to speak up. It sounds like the owner wants to put something else there. I personally would like to see it renovated, but right now the City Council is not likely to do anything with city funds (which I agree with for the most part).
I know the idea of renovating the Terrace came up a few years ago but never went anywhere. The cost of demolishing the structure is in the millions of dollars and renovating it is quite a bit more than demolition. With the tax base in Robbinsdale as it is it doesn’t look feasible for the city to do anything at the site.
The building is not in good shape. All of the windows are boarded up and a large number of them are broken under the boards. The last I saw the lobby was still somewhat intact, but I know that the theater part has been completely gutted in preparation for remodelling into medical office space (which never happened). There was a huge project of asbestos abatement, which I think the old owner finished before it was sold a month or two ago.
I would love to see someone come forward with a funding source to renovate the building into a Theater or a conference center or something that would preserve the character of the building. I would champion it on the City Council end.
Jakorns;
The Terrace is still vacant, and the most recent plans I heard for it was medical offices. This proposed redevelopment would, unfortunately, destroy most of the theater’s beautiful lobby leaving only a small portion at the main entry (the doors under the Terrace’s tower). I suppose it would be better than seeing the whole building destroyed, but there has got to be a better solution that would save that lobby. It is my understanding that Carmike Cinemas (the theater’s last owner) removed some of the theater’s fixtures and that vandals have made their way in over the years, but overall it is in pretty decent shape, hopefully no more damage will be done before a re-use is found, and hopefully the reuse itself will not damage the character of the building.
I recall this theater having three screens. It must have been huge before being divided into three. The lobby of the Terrace was huge, probably the largest I’ve ever seen, both in space and height. It also was beautifully equipped with splendid early 50’s design. I seen many movies there, including right before it closed and the place was in great shape. Hopefully it is currently not falling into disrepair since it closed. For those who love the 1950’s this theater, I believe is a valuable relic.
This theater was taken over by Midcontinent Theaters in the late 1980’s and the stadium balcony was walled off and divided making a three screen theater. Midco also moved their corporate offices to the Terrace building from the Foshay Tower at that time. The TV lounge was used as an office for the accounting department. Midcontinent Theaters and the Terrace were sold to Carmike Cinemas in October of 1995.
Does anyone know what the status of the proposed redevelopement? I used to live near the theatre in the 90s I don’t recall it triplexed, I recall it as duplexed. I only went to the shows in the main auditorium anyway. I loved it, faded and tired, but still very comfy .
As for the Cooper Theatre, the main auditorium remained intact until the end- there was an added screen on the side, but the main house and it’s balcony were still one unit. I saw Lawrence of Arabia and 10 Commandments there when they were reissued about a decade ago.
Does anyone know who has this theatre for sale?
Here’s an updated link to those photos Kaas mentioned above:
http://mnpreservation.org/endangered2003/
This was first time I located this webpage and wrote my comments in my comments about the Gopher today. Coming back every three to five years, it was disgusting to have the property damaged by lack of repairs to roof, chopping up balcony to made two more mini cinemas in the main auditorium (just as bad as dividing the Cooper Cinerama into two side by side auditoriums) and the gross demolishing of landscaping to make a financially questionable mall with Montgomery Ward and Supermarket), cutting the parking lot down. Now cannot know what theatres actually have proper screens, sound systems, and people sized chairs and leg room in Mpls.
Nice high resolution photos available here… near bottom
View link
It is a fantastic Liebenberg & Kaplan theater. The building has so much grace and elegance even in its deteriorated state. Hopefully the right funds will come along soon. The building would make a fantastic music school.