Montreal's Historic Empress Theatre to be Demolished and Reimagined
The Empress Theatre in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood will be demolished and transformed into an open-air cultural space, marking the end of a decades-long saga of failed restoration attempts for the historic venue.
Preserving Heritage While Creating New Community Space
The theatre's iconic Egyptian Revival facade will be carefully preserved during demolition and will serve as a dramatic backdrop to the new outdoor courtyard space. According to borough officials, this first phase of the project will create a community gathering area that can host outdoor movie screenings and cultural events.
Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough mayor Stephanie Valenzuela announced the decision on Tuesday, acknowledging the skepticism that has built up over years of similar promises that never materialized.
"The difference is that, concretely, this first phase is something we are capable of doing without any other partnership or funding from any other level of government or private actor," Valenzuela emphasized during the announcement.
From Grand Theatre to Abandoned Landmark
Built in 1927, the Empress Theatre originally featured a 1,550-seat auditorium that showcased first-run movies and burlesque stage productions. The venue later transitioned to a dinner theatre before becoming a cinema with an altered interior design.
A devastating fire in 1992 damaged the theatre significantly, prompting its owner to shut down operations permanently. The City of Montreal purchased the vacant building in 1999, but despite numerous restoration promises from successive administrations, the structure has remained largely abandoned for over two decades.
Recent technical analyses revealed that the building could not be preserved in its entirety due to extensive deterioration from years of neglect and exposure to the elements.
Phased Development with Cultural Focus
The borough plans to complete the demolition and initial courtyard transformation by fall 2027, with demolition work expected to begin this coming autumn and site preparation starting in early 2027. The project's first phase will essentially create a courtyard enclosed by the two preserved walls of the original facade.
While officials have not confirmed a specific budget, they estimate the initial phase can be completed for less than $10 million. The borough aims to have plans for a second phase developed with a cultural promoter and developer by the end of the current mandate in 2029, ensuring the site maintains its cultural purpose.
The preserved Egyptian Revival exterior elements, which have become increasingly deteriorated over time, represent one of Montreal's unique architectural treasures from the early 20th century. These decorative features will now serve as a historical anchor for the new community space rather than being lost entirely.
This transformation represents a pragmatic approach to heritage preservation in urban development—saving what can be saved while creating functional public spaces that serve contemporary community needs. The outdoor cultural courtyard will provide Notre-Dame-de-Grâce residents with a new gathering place that honors the site's theatrical history while looking toward its future cultural potential.
