# Jersey City's 100-year-old theater rises again

> The Loew's Jersey Theatre reopens November 13 after a massive restoration that preserves its 1920s grandeur while adding modern performance capabilities.
- Title: Jersey City's 100-year-old theater rises again · Billboard
- Summary: The Loew's Jersey Theatre reopens November 13 after a massive restoration that preserves its 1920s grandeur while adding modern performance capabilities…
- Keywords: loew's jersey theatre, jersey city, theater restoration, historic preservation, harris blitzer sports & entertainment, journal square, live performance venue, trey anastasio band, 1920s architecture, rapp and rapp, Jersey, City's
- Source: Billboard — https://billboard.com/pro/loews-jersey-theatre-reopen-november-inside-restoration
- Author: Taylor Mims
- Published: 2026-09-17T00:26:15+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: loew's jersey theatre, jersey city, theater restoration, historic preservation, harris blitzer sports & entertainment, journal square, live performance venue, trey anastasio band, 1920s architecture, rapp and rapp
## Nearly 100-year-old theater reopens
The Loew's Jersey Theatre will reopen November 13 in Jersey City after more than 40 years of limited use. The grand reopening features the Trey Anastasio Band.
## One of five Wonder Theatres
Built in the 1920s by renowned architects Rapp and Rapp, the Jersey Theatre was one of five Loew's Wonder Theatres constructed as movie houses around New York City. It originally seated 3,021 guests.
## Saved from the wrecking ball
The city bought the theater in 1993 when it faced demolition. Local preservationists fought to save it, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment joined the restoration project in 2021, seeing a need for a midsize venue in Jersey City.

> There was a big effort within the city to keep the building from the wrecking ball.
## Modern systems, historic character
The restoration updated electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and sound systems while respecting the building's 1985 historic designation. The pipe organ was restored and will be regularly serviced.

> It's a marriage of the restoration piece and bringing the building itself up to a modern-day standard.
## Flexible seating for any show
The theater now accommodates 2,600 to 4,000 guests with flexible seating configurations. The orchestra seating is fully mobile for standing-room-only shows, and all upper seating is on a single level for optimal sightlines.
## Artists prefer character
The original architects designed the theater with excellent sightlines for both film and stage. The single-level upper seating creates a sea of fans rather than stacked balconies, giving performers a better connection with the audience.

> Artists would prefer to play in something that has some character to it.
## Journal Square anchor returns
The theater sits in Jersey City's Journal Square, once known as Publishers Row for its newspaper businesses. The venue is easily accessible via car, PATH train, and New Jersey Transit, serving the tri-state area.
## Opening acts and beyond
The Trey Anastasio Band kicks off November 13, followed by The War On Drugs on November 14. Upcoming shows include Jodeci, Derek Hough, Jeff Dunham, and World of Warcraft: 20 Years of Music.
## Key takeaway

Historic theaters can be saved and repurposed as modern venues by balancing preservation with contemporary upgrades, making them attractive to artists and audiences alike.