Oriental Theater for sale

posted by theorientaltheater on August 25, 2010 at 7:45 am

DENVER, CO — The current owners/tenants of the Oriental Theater are putting the historic Northwest Denver landmark up for sale. The current ownership group, who took over the theater in July of 2009, have ownership stakes in two other Denver music venues and have decided to concentrate their efforts on those places. The historic theater has a capacity of over 700 and is one of the few theaters left in the Denver Metro area that can host anything from a small intimate wedding reception to a sold out crowd at a live music show.

The Oriental has a long and rooted history in the Northwest Denver community dating back to the early 1920’s.  Many grandparents tell their children and grandchildren stories of their first date at the Oriental Theater and how it has been a cornerstone of the community for many generations. 
The Oriental Theater was built as a movie theater in 1927, but even as early as 1928 it hosted vaudeville and music performances. Through the 1930s and 1940s the theater flourished with daily features that included the Depression Era concept of “bank night” where groceries and small household goods were given to lucky patrons.

The age of the automobile and the rise of the suburbs in the 1950s marked the beginning of rough, dark days for the Oriental Theater. In the 1960s to boast withering attendance, plush seating, new carpet, fresh paint, fluorescent lighting and a bigger projection screen were added.

Through the 1970s and 1980s the Oriental Theater slid into a steady state of shabby disrepair. By the end of the decade the owners were forced to close the doors to the historical building. In the 1990s several attempts were made to revive the Oriental Theater but none of the owners in those years had the vision or staying power to keep in front of trends and capitalize on the theater’s substantial assets.

In 2005, the Oriental theater received a much-needed interior remodel by a group of investors, since then the Oriental has had quite a resurgence, hosting a wide variety of events which kicked off with a sold-out grand re-opening 2006 New Years Eve bash with local Indie darlings Devotchka and then built a healthy head of steam during the next several years by hosting such acts as blues legend Johnny Winter, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, Bela Fleck, Fleet Foxes, Ivan Neville, Little Feat, and comedian (and now Daily Show correspondent) Kristin Schaal to name a few. Local artist who have performed there and later went on to make it big on a national level include The Fray, The Flobots, 3OH3! and Nathaniel Rateliff.

The Oriental also has hosted numerous film festivals (on its giant 40 ft screen), political fund raisers and debates, weddings and private parties.
Highlights include:
Large stage, 40 Foot giant movie screen, lobby bar. Great for live music, theater, dance, rentals, private parties, etc.
Includes attached store front ideal for coffee shop, game room or sublease. GREAT neighborhood business district.
Existing Dance Cabaret Liquor license
*$209K, 5 year lease with 5 yr option. Landlord open to extending lease (very reasonable rent -includes first right of refusal on sale)

Theaters in this post

• Oriental Theater