Elks Theatre

The Greater Middletown Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC) purchased the Elks Building and Theatre at 1 S. Union Street in Middletown Borough on August 23, 2005. The Greater Middletown Economic Development Corporation is a local 501(c)3 corporation focused on the economic revitalization of the Greater Middletown Area. Please see enclosed description.

The Elks Building is one of the most historically significant buildings within the borough and is critical to the success of Middletown's Main Street Program which is administered by Greater Middletown Economic Development Corporation. The building is one of the largest structures in Middletown and has particular significance in that it houses the Elks Theatre, one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the United States. In addition to the 469 seat theater, which occupies approximately one half of the building, the structure contains two retail stores on the ground floor and a large second floor containing the lodge of the building's current owner, Middletown Elks Lodge Bpoe 1092.

The Elks lodge recently placed the building on the market and attracted immediate interest from several developers who intended to permanently close the historic theater and convert the theater space to some less desirable use. The purpose of this project is to preserve the historic theater through acquisition of the building, restoration and renovation of the structure and ultimately the establishment of a non-profit community based performing arts/cultural center dedicated to the exhibition of films and presentation of live performances. In addition, the first floor retail spaces will be retained and the entire second floor (currently the home of the Elks Lodge) will be extensively renovated for occupancy, possibly by a restaurant or catering business.