Originally opened in 1927, the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte reopened in 2025 after nearly 50 years of vacancy.
The historic theater closed in 1978. It has since been carefully restored to its original glory by Foundation For The Carolinas. First opened on Tryon Street in 1927, the Carolina Theatre flourished for decades before closing in 1978. Deemed ‘too architecturally significant and too sentimental’ to demolish, the Carolina Theatre sat vacant at its original location on Tryon Street since then.
“As a community-first nonprofit theatre, it’s important that everyone – no matter who you are or where you come from – feels welcome at the Carolina Theatre from day one,” Sean Seifert, the Carolina Theatre’s executive director, said. “We’re deeply rooted in Charlotte’s history like few other places, and now we’re investing in our community’s future.”
The first event at Carolina Theatre in Charlotte was to welcome back the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO). The event held special significance, as the CSO gave its inaugural performance at the Carolina Theatre 93 years ago.
The city of Charlotte gifted the Carolina Theatre’s property to Foundation For The Carolinas in 2012 for $1. This began a massive $90 million philanthropic campaign to restore the theatre to its beloved glory. The deeply complex eight-year restoration process began in 2017.
While the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte at Belk Place will offer an array of entertainment, it will also host town halls, community events, and speaker series and civic engagement.
“This is Charlotte’s theatre. Plain and simple,” Seifert said. “We’re the community’s living room.”
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