A movie theater that has sat empty in Westwood, Ohio for roughly 30 years is finally undergoing renovations, with the nonprofit Westwood Works converting the long-dormant building into what it hopes will become a revamped community space for art performances, events and local gatherings.
The Westwood Theater was built in the 1930s and operated as a movie theater until the early 1990s, according to WCPO 9 News. Westwood Works, which now owns the property, says it plans to have the theater completely renovated and open within the next two to three years, though the station reports that timeline depends on funding still being secured.
Mike Charbel, the real estate project manager for Westwood Works, described the vacant theater as a blighted property that had been dragging down the surrounding area, per the same WCPO report. Charbel said the building will receive a facelift that more closely resembles its original form rather than a brand-new design.
A Neighborhood Business Owner Weighs In
Brandie Potzick, who owns Fable Cafe located across the street from the theater, told WCPO she supports the project. Potzick lives in Westwood and is raising her children there, and she said the neighborhood is missing an arts and cultural center. The station reports the project is expected to bring new people to the neighborhood, and Westwood Works has said it aims to keep more event-related spending local.
The theater's own account of its history, posted on Westwood Works' website, differs slightly on the building's age, stating the 11,000-square-foot theater was built in 1940 and seated 900 guests until its last movie in 1996. That same account describes the building as vacant for 30 years, used for storage, with gaping holes in the roof. Westwood Works says it acquired the property in fall 2025 and began planning its transformation soon after.
Conflicting Figures on Cost and Timeline
Westwood Works states it has already invested almost $1 million in predevelopment, acquisition and stabilization of the building. The organization's gala page says the theater will be ready for its next act in fall 2026 as part of a $3 million renovation — a figure and timeline that differ from what WCPO reported about the two-to-three-year outlook tied to funding. Additional funding would be needed to support the theater's redevelopment. The Westwood Theater sits on Harrison Avenue next to Emma's Soul Food, according to WCPO, and Westwood Works previously received funding through the City of Cincinnati's Quick Strike Program to acquire the building.
What the Theater Could Become
Current plans call for a modern, sleek space that will host fine and performing arts, cultural programming, youth programming and community events, according to Westwood Works. The organization is also seeking community input through a survey to help shape what comes next for the theater, asking whether residents want live music, movies, local performances or something else entirely.
To help fund that vision, Westwood Works is holding a fundraising gala on September 26 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the 8,000-square-foot historic Willadel mansion, with proceeds going toward the theater's revival as a cultural hub for Westwood.
Cincinnati has seen other historic theaters attempt comebacks after long dormancy. The Emery Theatre downtown, for instance, has been described in a National Trust for Historic Preservation report as a $51 million renovation meant to help revive the city's downtown theater district, though that project has also faced its own history of funding struggles, as Soapbox Media previously reported.
