Palace Theatre has new look after renovations
Amani Bayo- The Palace Theatre has undergone several renovations in recent years to improve the visitor experience while maintaining its historic charm.
- Funding for the renovations comes in part from ticket sales, making public support crucial for the theater's continued upkeep and improvement.
Though many may not have noticed, Columbus' Palace Theatre has gone through several renovations over the past few years.
And not being able to tell is actually a good thing. While revamping the nearly 100-year-old building, operations leaders from CAPA and the Palace Theatre made it their goal to maintain its historical charm.
"We did the renovation so people walking in there may not notice anything," said Jason Gay, vice president of operations at CAPA.
Now, the Palace Theatre will be the host to a preshow gathering May 2 to celebrate contributions by MontSurfaces, a family-owned wholesale supplier of fine surface materials, which played a role in improving the theater.
"What we find over the years is that the expectation from audiences for a live-event space is not the same as it was back in the 1920s, so we're constantly trying to find ways to improve the theater," Gay said.
Built in 1926, the Palace Theatre has been operating as a film center since the mid-80s and only began to see major renovations in 2018 with a $6.5 million project, according to Mark Szwabinsky, director of operations at the Palace Theatre.
Most recently, the theater went through an eight-week stint over the summer to complete bathroom renovations and install a permanent bar.
Gay said these changes would not have been possible without guests who purchase tickets so that a portion of that income can be used to upgrade the theater.
"The public should know that it is their continual use of the venues that allows us to keep these buildings open," Gay said.
"So, we have to constantly think about how to adjust them in ways that's appropriate to their history, but also meet the needs of the modern public."
Palace Theatre upgrades
The summer's renovations improved the last public restroom, a men's restroom on the mezzanine lobby level, and installed the theater's first permanent bar.
Gay also praised Schooley Caldwell, an architecture company in Columbus, that made the new bar look as though it had been there for 100 years.
"It's been a great addition," Szwabinsky said. "I think we achieved our goal there to make it feel like it was there from the very beginning"
The theater soon will upgrade its sound system. CAPA will also renovate the former Central Presbyterian Church at 132 S. Third St. into a public venue.
Visit capa.com for a list of upcoming events.