Denver's historic Esquire Theatre to close and be redeveloped

It's official: Denver's Esquire Theatre will close and be redeveloped. 

The nearly 100-year-old Denver cinema staple will be repurposed for "upscale office, restaurant and retail uses," building owners announced late Tuesday. 

Landmark Theatres, which Esquire has been a part of since 1980, said the theater at 590 Downing St. will close permanently in July. 

"We've received great support from the Esquire Theatre ownership team. However, as we evaluate this market and our long-term business strategy, we have decided to close the Landmark Esquire Theatre," President Kevin Holloway said in a news release. "Landmark's renowned Mayan Theatre, Chez Artiste, and The Landmark at Greenwood Village will remain open and continue to serve the area." 

Building owner Franklin 10 LLC last year submitted plans to Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center for the conversion of the 9,175-square-foot theater building — just south of the Capitol Hill neighborhood — into spaces for restaurants, offices and retail.

Denver's Landmark Preservation Commission approved the adaptive reuse plans Tuesday.

"We have entertained the possibility of leasing to another theater tenant. Unfortunately, we've been unable to find a partner for this opportunity," said Sam Leger of ownership group Franklin 10 LLC, in the release. "We have been and will continue to work with neighborhood groups as well as the city to create a desirable addition to the neighborhood."

Owners said the project is one of the first to use the adaptive reuse program offered by the City of Denver.

"Adaptive Reuse is the aesthetic process that adapts existing buildings for new uses while preserving their historic features," according to the release. "The goals of Adaptive Reuse include preserving architectural and cultural heritage, preventing demolition of the structure, and revitalizing obsolete buildings to be a resource to a community by keeping buildings occupied and vital."

Since its start as the single-screen Hiawatha Theatre in 1927, the movie theater has both expanded and withstood the test of time.

"The plans we have seen for the adaptive reuse of the Esquire Theatre are terrific. The building’s owners and their design teams have proven that creativity can allow an old building to serve a new purpose in a historic neighborhood," said Steven Simard, president of the Alamo Placita Neighbors Association, in the release.

Denver-based architecture firm Neo Studio is handling the redesign.

"The iconic Esquire signs will be refurbished and prominently featured in the new designs," the release states. "Designers are considering uses for other notable items such as old marquees and signage. Existing building materials will be recycled. Green building and energy enhancements will be implemented during renovations."

“As we move forward with our work on the Esquire Theatre site, we'll continue to work closely with our neighbors and on guidelines set out by the city. We're honored to be one the first projects in Denver to work in conjunction with this program,” Leger said. 

Denver Gazette reporter Sage Kelley contributed to this report.