By Living Room Realty, March 31, 2022
The Roseway Theater in NE Portland’s Roseway neighborhood has had some life breathed back into it, once again.
Some of Portland’s neighborhoods are blessed with intimate local movie theaters. In the Roseway neighborhood, on Sandy Blvd at the top of the cherished Roseway Parkway at NE 72nd Ave, sits the historic Roseway Theater. One of Portland’s first movie theaters, built and operating since 1924 – The Roseway is a charming single-screen cinema that boasts comfort, sound, and projection quality, rivaling the major corporate multiplex theaters – and I can attest to these claims!
I have been visiting this theater for years, biking here with friends on sunny spring days and warm summer evenings, and using the theater as a perfect escape from our Pacific Northwest wet and gray months. One of the perks of being a Real Estate Agent here in Portland is that I get to point out all of the little local gems for my clients to help them get acquainted with their future surroundings. Pointing out the Roseway as one of my favorite spots comes straight from my heart.
This time last year I was so saddened to drive by the damaged marquee, eyeing the broken glass and ripped movie posters. My partner and I would regularly fantasize about investing in the building so we could try and rescue our beloved local cinema from vanishing entirely.
The theater was rumored to be having financial difficulties even prior to the pandemic, with reports about years of unpaid taxes, and apparent interior cosmetic issues that were long remaining unaddressed. Once the pandemic hit and theaters were forced to close their doors, the entire facade seemed to fall into disrepair, and our hearts sank at the thought of losing one of our favorite neighborhood haunts.
To our delight, the Roseway’s sign has now been restored, the facade cleaned up, and they are back up and showing films! I think I could hear the whole neighborhood give a collective sigh of relief to know the owner hasn’t given up on it. The theater website reports a temporary closure right now for more necessary repairs (excited to find out what else is being fixed!) and promises to be back open by April 7th, 2022.
Somehow, as reported by Willamette Week, all of Portland’s historic cinemas survived the pandemic. A reason to celebrate indeed.
