Carolina Theatre

The Carolina Theatre is located in the heart of downtown Charlotte, NC. It opened on March 7, 1927 with Bebe Daniels in “A Kiss in a Taxi”. It was built for and operated by Publix and was equipped with a Barton theatre pipe organ which was opened by organist Faye Wilcox. In the 1940’s in was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey.

Despite a successful multi-decade run, including a period as a Cinerama theatre, the Carolina Theatre closed on November 27, 1978, and narrowly escaped damaged by arson in 1980. Many decorative elements of the original interior were removed, but others remained including the (deteriorating) murals. The lobby and entrance portion of the building was demolished recently, but the space from the auditorium to the street was very recently turned into a beautiful mini-park. The building is structurally sound, the exterior has been repaired and repainted.

In April 2013, the city of Charlotte sold the Carolina Theatre for $1.00 to the Foundation for the Carolinas with the intention to restore it as a performing arts and community center seating between 1,000 and 1,200. This project, estimated to cost $51,500,000, benefited from a $5,000,000 pledge from the Bank of America on January 28, 2014, to kick-start its fundraising campaign for the restoration. In 2018 Barings Bank gifted $500,000 which completed the $51.5 million required for the renovations. Construction began in renovating the Carolina Theatre with a planned 2020 reopening. This was delayed, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was announced in February 2025 that the theatre would reopen on March 28, 2025 with a performance by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and guest star Renee Fleming. A 32-story Intercontinental Hotel will be built on top of the theatre and the new project will be named Belk Place in honor of the Belk family. The Carolina Theatre was opened to the public on March 24, 2025 with a free admission ‘Open House’ for inspection.

Recent comments (view all 197 comments)

Patsy on January 23, 2024 at 3:41 pm

Thank you ncmark for the latest update. Will look at photos on Foundation for the Carolinas.

Patsy on January 23, 2024 at 3:43 pm

Where does one find photos re: the Carolina on Foundation for the Carolinas?

ncmark on August 15, 2024 at 2:25 pm

Construction is in the final stages with completion projected for the end of 2024 and the grand opening early in 2025. The budget has grown to nearly $90 million. The exterior has a recently added vertical sign (posted in the photo section) and the historic facade with a reproduction marquee is being reinstalled just inside the new glass box lobby.

ncmark on December 17, 2024 at 8:58 am

Grand reopening is tentatively set for March 7, 2025 which is the anniversary of the original opening date in 1927.

Patsy on December 17, 2024 at 4:55 pm

Music to my ears! Waited along time for this! May have to attend to see this theatre.

ncmark on February 20, 2025 at 8:49 am

The first event has been announced for the reopening. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra will perform with guest star Renee Fleming on March 28, 2025. More events will be added soon. The official opening may be before this event. Fittingly, the symphony had its inaugural performance on the stage of the Carolina back on March 20, 1932 when local blue laws prohibited movies from being shown on Sundays.

Patsy on February 20, 2025 at 9:48 am

Thanks ncmark for those updates. Do you know Charlie Clayton? He was involved early on with saving this theatre.

ncmark on March 6, 2025 at 12:37 pm

Grand reopening is scheduled for Monday, March 24, 2025.

rivest266 on March 6, 2025 at 3:23 pm

1927 grand opening ad posted.

ncmark on March 24, 2025 at 5:12 pm

Open for business as of March 24, 2025. Photos added.