Renovations Proposed for Plaza Theatre

Lights, camera, action: A historic movie theater in Atlanta is getting some tweaks.

According to two building permit applications with the City of Atlanta, Plaza Theatre is seeking changes to the main entrance and the addition of an elevator to make parts of the theater more accessible.

The elevator is proposed for the back of the building “to provide ADA [Americans With Disabilities Act] access to the balcony level theatres and future roof terrace.” According to the application, it’s not feasible for the elevator to be constructed inside the building without “significantly altering the historic building fabric.” The projected cost of construction for this part of the renovation is $300,000.

A spruce-up is also proposed for the main entrance, including replacing non-historic doors, adding a new ticket booth, and new poster casing and lighting. The projected cost of construction for this step is $200,000.

Owner Christopher Escobar told What Now Atlanta that the changes are part of Plaza Theatre’s second phase of renovation, which also includes redone bathrooms and a renovated concessions area and bar. They hope to have the current phase of changes done by the end of this year.

The first phase included converting the balcony into two small auditoriums. The final phase: adding a backstage dressing room and rooftop patio.

Plaza Theatre first opened in 1939, making it the city’s longest-running independent movie theater. The Art Deco-style building was designed by architect George Harwell Bond, according to the official website .

Escobar, executive director of Atlanta Film Society and also the owner of Tara Theatre , became the owner of Plaza Theatre in 2017.

Plaza Theatre is located at 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, in the Briarcliff Plaza Shopping Center between The Righteous Room and a FedEx store.

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