“The projector will roll once again in the long-dark Linda Lea Theater at 251 S. Main St., as part of a partnership between a new owner and a group of community arts leaders.
Plans are underway to reopen the Linda Lea Theater. The space at Second and Main streets has sat vacant since the 1980s. Photo by Gary Leonard.
The Little Tokyo Service Center Development Corp. (LTSC), along with local arts leaders who will operate the space, plan to revive the 500-seat theater with independent film screenings, film festivals, community events and possibly a rooftop bar. In keeping with the theater’s Japanese history, a concessions stand will include items such as Japanese sweets, edamame, sake, soju and beer.
“It will be an independent theater, but we’re not going to try and compete with places like Laemmles,” said Nic Cha Kim, co-founder of Gallery Row, a collection of art exhibition spaces along Main and Spring streets. “We want to make the theater itself an experience.”
Broker Sandy Bleifer of DownTown Enterprises represented the seller, the Los Angeles-based Grace family, and the buyer, an undisclosed family foundation. Escrow closed in late December. The purchase price was not released.
“We had maybe half a dozen interested parties, but because of the special nature of the project, the Graces were very attached to the property,” Bleifer said. “They always wanted to see it come back to life. One of the things that attracted the new owners to the property was the opportunity to have an ongoing relationship with the Little Tokyo Service Center.”
Kim will serve as artistic director, and will operate the theater along with fellow Gallery Row founder Kjell Hagen, and partners Jared Hungerford and James Kirst.
The 7,700-square-foot Linda Lea, which closed in the 1980s, was one of only three theaters in Los Angeles to screen Japanese language films. During its heyday in the 1960s, visitors would flock to see the latest samurai drama produced by the Toei film company.
“I always thought it was a beautiful building. Who wouldn’t want it?” said Kim. “We’ve had this project in our minds for five or six years, and drew up plans to renovate it long before it was for sale.”
The LTSC and the operators are applying for a $1.5 million grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment. The deadline is April. The dilapidated property is in need of extensive renovation, Hagen said, and the team is in the process of determining a timeline for completion.
“We’re currently trying to get support behind us from many different angles, from the city to the L.A. Conservancy,” said Hagen. "
Very exciting. I would love to watch an Ozu or Kurosawa at this theater…
From Downtownnews.com:
“The projector will roll once again in the long-dark Linda Lea Theater at 251 S. Main St., as part of a partnership between a new owner and a group of community arts leaders.
Plans are underway to reopen the Linda Lea Theater. The space at Second and Main streets has sat vacant since the 1980s. Photo by Gary Leonard.
The Little Tokyo Service Center Development Corp. (LTSC), along with local arts leaders who will operate the space, plan to revive the 500-seat theater with independent film screenings, film festivals, community events and possibly a rooftop bar. In keeping with the theater’s Japanese history, a concessions stand will include items such as Japanese sweets, edamame, sake, soju and beer.
“It will be an independent theater, but we’re not going to try and compete with places like Laemmles,” said Nic Cha Kim, co-founder of Gallery Row, a collection of art exhibition spaces along Main and Spring streets. “We want to make the theater itself an experience.”
Broker Sandy Bleifer of DownTown Enterprises represented the seller, the Los Angeles-based Grace family, and the buyer, an undisclosed family foundation. Escrow closed in late December. The purchase price was not released.
“We had maybe half a dozen interested parties, but because of the special nature of the project, the Graces were very attached to the property,” Bleifer said. “They always wanted to see it come back to life. One of the things that attracted the new owners to the property was the opportunity to have an ongoing relationship with the Little Tokyo Service Center.”
Kim will serve as artistic director, and will operate the theater along with fellow Gallery Row founder Kjell Hagen, and partners Jared Hungerford and James Kirst.
The 7,700-square-foot Linda Lea, which closed in the 1980s, was one of only three theaters in Los Angeles to screen Japanese language films. During its heyday in the 1960s, visitors would flock to see the latest samurai drama produced by the Toei film company.
“I always thought it was a beautiful building. Who wouldn’t want it?” said Kim. “We’ve had this project in our minds for five or six years, and drew up plans to renovate it long before it was for sale.”
The LTSC and the operators are applying for a $1.5 million grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment. The deadline is April. The dilapidated property is in need of extensive renovation, Hagen said, and the team is in the process of determining a timeline for completion.
“We’re currently trying to get support behind us from many different angles, from the city to the L.A. Conservancy,” said Hagen. "
Very exciting. I would love to watch an Ozu or Kurosawa at this theater…