The Des Moines Theater is a special landmark in the city of Des Moines that will soon be open to the public with multiple performing art activities available. 

It makes its proud appearance in the very middle of the city. But for roughly four years the theater has been under renovation. 

The building – built in 1947 – was originally home to a cinema holding 400 seats total, space for retail store, and offices. 

It is now coming closer to the full renovations, and will include 18 residential units behind and above the theater. Once the theater is finished it will be the tallest building in the city of Des Moines.

The owners have the city working with Puget Sound Energy to “underground” the power behind the theater. Puget Sound Energy is Washington’s energy utility company that focuses on the gas and power use within the Puget Sound region. 

The renovated building will also officially include a new coffee shop and a yoga studio as anchor tenants. The Des Moines theater will also include a recording studio on the second floor with new updated equipment.

Owners hope to add an outdoor stage in a near empty lot located south of the theater. 

Plenty of bars and restaurants will be located throughout the building, and the historic neon sign has been restored to be placed back in its original spot.  

Since 2015 the theater has been owned by Dan Spaulding and the renovations have been managed by Ben Anderson and Jefferson Angell.  

Although it has been long awaited, an opening date has still not been released. Anderson hopes to open the theater sometime in the early part of this year, but there is no official date. 

The mission of the Des Moines theater has always stayed the same: To provide a home of the arts and a gathering place for the community of Des Moines and all of South King County.  

The “Des Moines Cinema Building” was opened in March of 1947 by Delbert and Wally Osterhoudt. Although, the theater has changed hands and been closed entirely over the years. The theater has been a sort of dead zone for most of the century. 

The Des Moines Theater holds significance in the city and once it is opened, it is said that the city will boom. Many residents are more than excited to see change and see the building brought back to life. 

“It is our goal to return the theater to an operating movie theater as well as a performing arts center for love music, plays and private events,” Anderson said in a video tour of the building’s renovations.

If you are interested in watching an in-depth video tour of the Des Moines theater you may use this link (running time 59 minutes, 53 seconds).