Suburban World Theatre

The Suburban World has been converted into a cinema cafe (probably around late 2000) seating considerably fewer than 800. However the atmospheric interior is still intact and the cloud machine is still rolling!

I am looking for information on restoring a theater and looking for someone interesting in running the four screen theater.

The Suburban World is currently closed.

The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra has a home, at, where else?, Symphony Hall!! The theater is much too small for symphony orchestra.

The theater closed in 2003 after a plan to reorganize it as a multi-pupose entertainment venue fell through. The owner would not negotiate with the tenant, or something along those lines. The group that was to run the theater is now putting their energy into another neighborhood theater, the Hollywood Theater in Mpls.
http://www.cinematreasures.org/theater/5994/

Before the more recent remodel- groovy anondized gold aluminum:

http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/165

And vintage shot with all good stuff from the streetfront(this link may not work)

And the well appointed interior. Exotic huh?

The links didn't work... here's the link to the exterior shots and the interior shots.

Michael, will you be adding that comment to every single theater on this website which is still standing, or will you be ordering a few more to be demolished as well?

Before the conversion to cinema grill, the seating was 600, which came about after a re-seating and remodel of the lobby which took place in 1966-67. Prior to that, the seating was probably in the 800 range.

Any update on this theatre?

I loved this theater. As far as I know, it was the only one of its kind in Minneapolis. Where else can you have dinner and watch a classic? It's a pity it closed.

An atmospheric should never be closed as they are very special, but so are all the old cinema treasures no matter the style as they truly are just that....treasures!

And where did the name Surburban World come from? I like Granada much better!

Suburban World is a cinema grill with 240 seats. Here is an article on this theater:

Suburban World granted new life by Kari Larson.

"The historic Suburban World Theater, located at 3022 Hennepin Ave. S., re-opened under new management with the goal of preserving a historical treasure. The management team, headed by Kim Bartmann of Bryant-Lake Bowl and Café Barbette, is hoping to merge cinema, concerts and other styles of performance with high quality food and drink that engages the community.

Originally opened in 1928 with the name of Granada Theater, the theater features stadium seating, which was ahead of its time when designed by local architect Jack Liebenberg. In fact, many movie theaters nowadays are just starting to incorporate stadium seating.

The interior of the theater still maintains many of its original characteristics. Stars and moving clouds decorate the ceiling, giving the illusion that there is no roof overhead. There are also the original stucco facades of balconies, statues and plants to enhance this illusion. In 1991 the Minneapolis City Council placed the theater on a list of historically significant buildings. The theater is the only surviving example of an atmospheric theater in the city and one of only a few that remain in the state.

The theater became known as the Suburban World in 1954 and at this time, a great deal of remodeling took place. Wrought iron doors were placed in front of the theater, and the lobby’s chandelier was replaced with more modern fixtures. Over the past 74 years, the theater has been a venue for a variety of entertainment, including vaudeville performances, comedy shows and, more recently, sporting events.

The menu has a variety of gourmet foods, ranging from tapas and salads to sandwiches and seafood entrees. Some of the more notable features of the Suburban World Theater include cabaret-type seating for 240, a beer and wine license, DVD playback deck, data projections capabilities, surround sound and availability for corporate and private events.

The management team includes: Nate Johnson, film curator; Bryon Gunsch, technical director; Simone Ahuja, business development; Dan Nycklemoe, artistic director; Jack Chaffee, executive chef; Kevin McLaughlin, marketing and publicity; Mary Lucia, music booker; Tracy Bygrave, operations manager and Kim Bartmann, owner.

For upcoming movies and their showtimes, call the theater’s movieline at 612-825-6688".

Opened as the Granada Theatre on 26th September 1928 with the movie "Glorious Betsy" starring Dolores Costello and Conrad Nagel. Seating capacities vary in different editions of Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 = 732, 1943 = 900, 1950 = 691. The book 'Show Houses - Twin Cities Style' by Kirk J. Besse gives a seating capacity of 800.

The Granada was operated by Paramount Picture Inc. through their subsidiary John Friedl during the 1940's.

What is the date of this newspaper article?

Is it really open? The web site has a press kit from 2002, and no current events on its calendar.

I don't have the date for that article Ron. I didn't bookmark the site. I'm not sure if they advertise their schedule like a regular theater does. Maybe thats the reason the phone number was given to call for showtimes.

This is an article from 1999 with a small photo of the original interior.

This is a 2002 photo of the exterior of the theater.

Here is a website with interior photos of its opening night in February 2002.

Here is an article from August 10, 2005. Read the yellow box next to the main story. Part of it reads "Between shows you can kill some time at Fringeville, which occupies the Suburban World Theater at 3022 Hennepin Avenue throughout the 11-day festival". I'm not sure what "Fringeville" is but something is going on at this theater.

Here is an older photo of the Suburban World Theater.

A late 1990's photo of Suburban World can be seen here.

Why would someone change the original name from Granada to Suburban World? The name change reminds me of a B movie title.

Cartoon Brunch is back at the Suburban World! (as of 11/11/2006) I went on Saturday, 11/18/06, and had a fun time. The Spanish/Mediterranean theme, the stars, and the cloud machine are all still there! They also have an NFL brunch every Sunday, and various special events, musical shows, and film festivals (It was the headquarters for the 2006 Minneapolis/St Paul International Film Fest)

For now, you can find info about the theater at
www.myspace.com/suburbanworldtheatre
The management is in the process of updating the official site
(www.suburbanworldtheatre.com)

This is the only operating theater I know of in the Twin Cities area with spanish influence. The only other that even comes close is the old El Lago Theater next to the Lake Street Garage restaraunt. That theater, was, however turned into a church a long time ago, and I dont believe much of the original interior is left, though there is still a gorgeous facade with beautiful spanish wall ornamentation at the main entry. I too wonder why the name was switched to Suburban World. I'm pretty sure that name doesn't describe the theater as well as Granada does. I would like to see the name changed back to Granada, and the original sign recreated. I dont think many people realize how grand the place is because unfortunately Suburban World does not sound so ritzy.

This website has small photos and some history.

Here is a recent photo of the Suburban World Theater.

THS visited this theater on their 2007 Conclave this summer. Very friendly welcome from the staff - very interesting theater, inside and out!

This is another view of Suburban World.

The name "Suburban World" dates back to the years when Ted Mann owned this theater along with a number of others including the downtown World Theater on 7th Street just west of Hennepin Avenue. The name was chosen, I believe, simply to differentiate it from the downtown theater. I agree that the original name "Granada" should be reinstated.

What a fabulous-looking theatre, inside and out. It seems to be in a class all by itself. Thanks for posting and sharing all the info with everybody here.

Suburban World photo 1999

The name World came about in the 1930s. The small downtown Minneapolis World was cut out of a larger older cinema. Around the same time the 1910 Shubert in St. Paul was renamed the World. Today the St. Paul house is the Fitzgerald. The Minneapolis house is long gone.
The name World was chosen because these two cinemas started out screening international films. So in the early 1950s the "suburban" World started out the same way, screening non-Hollywood international films.

Is the Suburban World still open? None of the web sites are active and are for sale. The MySpace hasn't been updated since 2007.

Chuck....Suburban World is open. Here is a working link for their website. The address is 3022 Hennepin Avenue and the phone number is 952.471.9500.

1981 photo of the Suburban World Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28793
1982 photo of the Suburban Word Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28795
1982 night photo of the Suburban World Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28797
Another 1982 photo of the Suburban World Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28796

Another photo can be seen here.