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Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 1,508 comments
The removable seats on the main floor remind me of the folding chairs in the lobby where the Friends of the Loew’s showed their first classic movie, “This Island Earth”.
No mention in that restoration article about showing movies…
https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/12/12/lifestyle/how-restoration-of-historic-loews-jersey-theatre-will-reshape-journal-square-into-premier-arts-district/
I just wonder how the Loews would deal with large numbers of cars coming into the Journal Square area if it is converted into concert venue ala Bergen PAC and MAYO Pac. Do the promoters think the PATH train garage could handle such large numbers?
According to an article linked above, it’s being renovated and run by Devils Arena Entertainment, the Newark-based operator of the Prudential Center, as a major concert and event venue. They have a deal with the city.
Is it still a community volunteer project, or is it now corporate or municipal?
Renovation work started in earnest about three months ago. Photos and news are hard to come by, but the entire exterior is covered in scaffolding and the interior has been cleaned out. That’s all I know. They are still estimating next year to reopen.
Very well-said, Jodar. I just hope Jersey City would be willing to “foot the bill”.
After reading the article, it seems the venue will get remodeled at a much higher cost. To wait any longer would mean even higher construction costs in the future. The sooner things get done, the sooner they can reopen and entertain audiences again and make some $ and boost the local economy.
Hi Theatrefan,
Perhaps I’m just getting a bit cynical but it seems to me the Loews just can’t seem to get a break! First, quite a few years ago Jersey City seemed to be talking about tearing it down, then FOL stepped in. Now the building has been sitting dormant for (what is it,) two to three years? And finally the possibility of a “renovation” cost of 70 mil. being raised to nearly 100 mil.? (If I have my figures straight?). What really is the “bottom line” here? Politics? Greed? Apathy? Mis-information? (all of the above? I wonder if we’ll really know the “truth”?
The estimated costs for the renovation project apparently are turning out to be way more than originally estimated. https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/07/cost-of-renovating-landmark-loews-jersey-theater-balloons-to-105-million.html
Re: Loews Jersey, I wonder if there are any photos any where that illustrate the re-construction (if anything has started.) of this wonderful theater.
I was always in the audience at Film Forum when they featured their fantasy and Science Fiction Festivals (which, if memory serves were always well-attended.) But as you say..a thing of the long ago past. These programs were always worth a journey on the PATH train.
I believe FF still shows film classics however the once ubiquitous double features are a thing of the long ago past. Between the cost of traveling there and the cost of a ticket for one movie I gave up when I was once an avid member.
The theatre where I work thats shows 35MM offered to let them do their series at our theatre in Rahway NJ but they declined.
The last bit of news I read (and this is by no means conclusive!) is that the “re-opening” date has now been scheduled for 2026!!!! I’m beginning to get a bit “concerned” as most of the film venues that featured “classic” films of various genres as part of their regular schedule (The Lafayette in Suffern, NY, Film Forum in NYC) seem to be dropping their classics due to “lack of interest”. Although, to be fair there is a relatively new venue, The Barrymore Center which opened in Fort Lee, NJ a short time ago.
Any updates?
As far as I know, the city’s contract with the commercial operator that will eventually run the theatre guarantees that Friends Of The Loews a specific number of dates to run their own programming. How this will work out in real life remains to be seen.
Has the $70 million dollars for the restoration been made available yet? I hope so.
The Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn had a similar restoration some years ago, but as far as I know they’ve only had one classic movie event (Barry Lyndon). The Loew’s Jersey has a better claim on keeping classic movies being shown, since the building would have been torn down long ago if not for Friends of the Loew’s and their classic movie shows.
I hope so too, Bill! The Loews, in all of its collective glory and beauty has been such an oasis for so many film lovers over the past twenty-five years or so… I hope its beauty and heritage are respected and maintained! (As someone who grew up in Hudson County I completely “get” the “hesitation” of many of us regarding local politicians!)
Will all the volunteers of the last years that kept this building operational be honoured?
Promises! From politicians!
It will be a performing arts center, but we’ve been promised that the classic movie screenings won’t be discontinued. I hope they mean it.
What will it be used for when reopened?
The renovations are underway! The Jersey closed at the end of 2021 for a two year restoration!