Loew’s Jersey Theatre sets Nov. 9 reopening after decades in the dark

October 29, 2026

It opened in 1929 as one of the grandest theaters in the region. It essentially closed in 1986, when a developer wanted to demolish it for housing.

Since then, it has sat largely quiet in Jersey City’s Journal Square, kept alive mostly by the volunteers who refused to let it go. Next month, the Loew’s Jersey Theatre finally comes all the way back.

The landmark will celebrate its reopening with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 9, capping a restoration and redevelopment decades in the making.

For Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, the theater means more than a new place to see a show.

“The Loew’s Jersey Theatre is a symbol of Jersey City’s past and future,” he said this spring, when renderings of the restored venue were released. “For decades, Journal Square has been the heart of our city, home to working families, immigrants and dreamers.”

Solomon credited the Friends of the Loew’s, the volunteer group that fought for years to save the theater, with making the moment possible.

“The Friends of Loews fought to bring this iconic Wonder Theatre back to life,” he said.

The Loew’s was one of five famed “Wonder Theatres” built in the New York area. Now it’s set to become one of the region’s major live venues.

The restoration is a partnership among the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, the state through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and HBSE. Because of its landmark status, the work has been reviewed by the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission, the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service.

The shows start four days after the ribbon-cutting. The inaugural lineup spans music, comedy and dance: