But the streets of the Grand Concourse have been quiet for years, the echo of applause replaced by the hush of restoration work that’s been underway since 2024. The once‑glittering marquee is getting a new lease on life, and the plan is as ambitious as it is nostalgic—bringing the venue back to its 1929 splendor while adding a rooftop stage, a swanky bar, and a boutique gift shop that will turn the lobby into a versatile event space.
EverGreene Architectural Arts, whose fingerprints are on Brooklyn’s Loew’s Kings Theatre, is pulling the strings behind the refurbishment. Their task? Recreate the original ceiling’s constellation of stars and drifting clouds, while a team led by designer Kenn Lubin will restore and relight the iconic Paradise and Grand Concourse signs. The Irwin Seating Company is also on the case, turning worn seats back into plush, period‑accurate seats that will cradle the 4,000‑seat auditorium.
“Every borough of New York City has a major performing‑arts center except the Bronx,” says Executive Director Scott Perrin, his voice echoing the promise of a cultural renaissance. He emphasizes that the venue isn’t just a theater; it’s a community hub that will host concerts, stand‑up, dance, film screenings, and educational workshops. “We’re opening doors to a generation that hasn’t had a place like this in their backyard,” he adds.
Producer Peter Martin, who owns the theater’s current lease, paints a picture of a living, breathing space. “The Paradise theater is one of the most spectacular, atmospheric venues ever built in the U.S., and we’re determined to return it to the magnificence it held when it first opened on the Grand Concourse in 1929.” His words hint at an ambition that stretches beyond just shows—into film festivals, community festivals, and even weddings.
The official press preview is slated for Tuesday, November 10th, 2026, a day that will see the first footfall in a venue that has watched the Bronx evolve from a quiet borough to a cultural powerhouse. With a seating capacity that makes it the second‑largest theater in New York City—right after Radio City Music Hall—the Paradise is not just a revival; it’s a bold statement that the Bronx can host the same grandeur it has always dreamed of.
So when the lights dim and the first act takes the stage, the Bronx will finally have its own stage to shout back to the rest of the city. And that, in itself, is a performance worth watching.