Historic Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City will reopen in 2028

Historic Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City will reopen in 2028

Salt Lake City's iconic Tower Theatre is on track to reopen in 2028 after closing in 2020.

Why it matters: The beloved arthouse theater is among a rare few from its era still standing, serving as a gathering place for cinephiles to celebrate film culture.

Driving the news: The Salt Lake Film Society, the nonprofit that operates the Tower Theatre and Broadway Centre Cinemas, announced Wednesday that it's raising $8.5 million to complete the Tower Theatre renovation.

  • Renovations are expected to begin next spring with a planned opening in time for the Tower's 100th anniversary.
  • The project is currently undergoing facade deconstruction to assess what can be preserved and restored, including the original facade and turrets that were built to resemble the Tower of London.

    • The big picture: The restoration of the 1928 venue, which once screened silent films, comes as independent theaters across the U.S. see a resurgence fueled by young moviegoers.

  • The film society also recently invested in new seats for the Broadway.

    • Catch up quick: The pandemic and an earthquake forced the theater to close in 2020. In 2021, the nonprofit discovered structural issues with the venue that prevented it from reopening, placing its future in jeopardy, the film society's CEO and president Tori A. Baker said during a Wednesday news conference.

  • Eventually a grant from the Alternative Visions Fund helped the nonprofit buy the venue from an LLC and start the overhaul.

    • State of play: Once renovations are complete, the 9th and 9th landmark will feature three small theaters, dubbed "microcinemas," new exhibition space, a larger screen in its historic auditorium and upgraded bathrooms.

  • It'll be able to screen 35mm and 70mm films, and it'll still have the largest video and DVD archive in town.