Arcadia Theater
9 Congress Street,
Portsmouth,
NH
03801
9 Congress Street,
Portsmouth,
NH
03801
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The Franklin Block still stands. It once contained the Arcadia Theater… and did so until the early-1980’s. It became retail on the first floor (now a restaurant), and offices upstairs. It is still handsome, but was completely gutted.
In common New Hampshire tradition, a building would be named something like the Franklin Block and contain…the Arcadia Theater. Across the street the National Block once contained the Odd Fellows Hall.
This theater is around the corner from the Music Hall and just across the street from what was the Colonial Theater (and is soon to come down).
Contributed by
John Elwood
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
is this for sale?
thank you ron
(July 29, 1976)
Youth Enrichment Services (Y.E.S.), a group of young people in the seacoast area, is an organization of representatives from area social service agencies coordinated by “The Junction” Youth Resource
Center.
The purpose of the organization is to provide a structure in which youth may assume a leadership role in developing and enriching youth oriented community programs.
Y.E.S. is negotiating the rental of the old Arcadia Theatre on Congress Street. The Arcadia Theatre, once a major attraction in Portsmouth, has been closed since the mid-1950’s. The proposed use of the vacant theatre offers the Y.E.S. group a rare opportunity to provide the entire community with a facility that could be used for many purposes. Proposed uses for the building include rental of office space, public displays, lectures, a recreational center, concerts, movies, theatre, learning center, and all types of cultural and social activities. Considerable renovation would be required to meet modern health and safety regulations. The Y.E.S. Group is a non-profit corporation and is in need of money, materials, labor, interests, and ideas. Help us help the community. Contributions are tax deductible.
V.I.P.
The current occupant of 9 Congress Street is a restaurant called the Bakery Cafe.