Vallejo's Empress Theatre, a downtown landmark since 1911, has added a restaurant and expanded its programming, giving people a reason to visit Wednesday through Sunday, the Vallejo Sun reported.
Why it matters: The theater's general manager says the changes are working, with revenue up 66% since January. Its leaders say the venue needs more people buying tickets to survive.
What's new
The Marquee Club hosts blues bands on Wednesdays and jazz on Thursdays, with a dinner menu of sandwiches, salads, pizzas and desserts, the Vallejo Sun reported. On Fridays, a supper club serves themed menus inspired by different countries. Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Empress Theatre's website lists the theater at 330 Virginia St. and the Marquee Club next door at 324 Virginia St. It says the venue is open Wednesday through Sunday.
"We open the doors of the theater at 7 p.m., but we open the Marquee Club at 5:30 p.m. for dinner," manager Dianna Quatraro told the Sun.
A long history
The Empress opened as a vaudeville venue in 1912 and later became a playhouse and then a movie theater. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged it, and it stayed closed until a private investor, the city and the nonprofit now called Vallejo Center of the Arts took on a seismic retrofit. It reopened in 2008, the Sun reported.
The nonprofit raised $7 million for the retrofit and improvements, board member Susan MacDonald said.
What's ahead
General manager Jay Johnson, who started in January, said he wants more variety, including comedy, dance and film, and to reach more of Vallejo's communities. Upcoming shows include a funk opera on Oct. 31 and an ABBA tribute on Nov. 20 and 21.