The west side’s only movie theater is getting some badly needed TLC.
On Tuesday, Northwest Neighborhoods, the CDC that owns the Capitol Theatre in Gordon Square, announced that the complex is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from Cuyahoga County to install a new projector system in its main auditorium.
That projector, replacing an outdated one that hasn’t been upgraded in 17 years, could signal new growth for the Capitol amid financial woes. In 2023 and 2024, the theater lost some $370,000, Crain’s Cleveland reported.
But a new projector for its main hall spells a wealth of options — showing more cult favorites and blockbusters or hosting more milestone nights like its Superman debut last summer.
And, ideally, serving as future satellite location for the Cleveland International Film Festival.
“With the new projector, we have a lot more flexibility to showcase local talent and be more reliable and open for events,” Akshay Kalra, the economic development coordinator for Northwest Neighborhoods, told Scene in an email.
“With our strong relationship with the film festival leadership and these upgrades, we are also hopeful to bring back CIFF to the west side of Cleveland, with the Capitol being one of the venues,” he added.
Hopes that seem ideal amongst the Capitol’s tough past few years.
The pandemic years that wrecked the theater industry hit smaller, more boutique cinemas severely. Last year, Scene reported the Capitol was losing tens of thousands of dollars a year—while still owing a portion of a $1.5 million loan to the city.
In June, Northwest formed the Capitol Theatre Stewardship Board, a 10-person body tasked with steering its theater into healthier territory. A public survey came soon after. Fans wanted “unique” programming, Kalra said; they wanted “events” worth going to; and improved ways of advertising those events.
“In short, people want to do cool stuff,” Kalra said. “And they want to be aware of cool stuff happening.”
But what dictates cool? Today, the Capitol shows box office successes while occasionally acting host to cult staples or lost classics.
A tech upgrade means a wider range of films to show. But, its critics say, Capitol needs to pick a lane.
“The question is whether the theater is going to focus on film nerds like the Cinematheque or on a broader audience that wants to see Super Mario, so the format is not important,” Jeff Barge, a former member of the Northwest board, wrote Scene. “Are they competing with the Cinematheque or Regal Crocker Park?”
Barge, who’s also been playing the board’s watchdog in the past few years, still questions whether or not the city could forgive the Capitol’s $1.5 million loan. Regardless of how much is still owed.
“It’s not Monopoly money,” Barge said.
The Capitol’s upgrade comes as Gordon Square sees other forms of growth.
Last year, the Cleveland Public Theatre aannounced a $12 million makeover of its own facility off Detroit Ave. Atmos Coffee and Vessel Coffee Collective also opened up recently down the way, as did the W Sports Bar.
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