SF’s 113-Year-Old Clay Theater to Return After 4 Year Closure

The historic Clay Theater at 2261 Fillmore Street is coming back to life. Closed since 2020, the 113-year-old single-screen cinema will be restored with 200 seats, upgraded sound and projection, and a refreshed lobby. Plans filed this week call for over 500 screenings a year, plus space for talks, community events, and even a new concession area and bookstore in front.

It is all part of the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project, which has been quietly acquiring buildings on the block. While the Clay’s return is the centerpiece, other changes are on the way too: the old Starbucks will flip into a Thai noodle spot, Noosh will become Korean BBQ, and a few more storefronts are lined up for local, independent businesses.

Demolition work has already started on neighboring spaces, but for Clay fans, the big news is clear. After four years of silence, the neighborhood’s beloved movie house is finally making its comeback.

Read more at SF Yimby and The New Fillmore