SF’s Historic Movie Theater Closes Its Doors Permanently

Thanks to KQED for sharing the unfortunate news that West Portal’s historic theater has closed permanently.

San Francisco’s CinéArts at Empire has permanently shut its doors due to the ongoing pandemic. Cinemark noted to KQED that the end of its lease was up, and they were choosing not to renew.

The theater originally opened its doors in the silent film era as the Portal Theatre in 1925 with a single screen. It was renamed Empire 11 years later. Cinemark took over the theater in 2003 and opened it as an arthouse cinema in 2003.

SFist notes its the first movie theater in San Francisco to close down due to the pandemic.

Hopefully, a new theater will occupy the landmark building; KQED reports that the Office of Economic and Workforce Development is looking for a new tenant to occupy the space.