Regal Theater
Former Regal Theater shines in City's West End
In-Process Project – This project is in process, and information may change. This page will be updated as it progresses.
History:
The Regal Theater is believed to have been built around 1908. It opened as the Casino Theater in 1914 and was renamed the Regal in 1941. With 1,500 seats, the theater originally featured a stage for vaudeville and other live performances before transitioning to film.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the Regal screened cartoons and feature films by day and hosted jazz musicians late into the night, serving as a vibrant cultural hub for the West End community.
The theater closed in 1996, and by 2002, it had deteriorated enough to be featured in CityBeat’s “Blight of the Week.”
Acquisition and Momentum:
The Hamilton County Landbank acquired the Regal in April 2013 and began stabilization work later that year, with additional maintenance and stabilization efforts completed periodically since.
In 2019, The Port partnered with the Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center (ROMAC) to save and renovate the historic theater. The project includes a full renovation of the existing structure.
Once complete, the revitalized Regal will become the new home for ROMAC and provide space for additional theatrical, musical, and arts organizations, as well as co-working space.
Located at the corner of Linn and Clark Streets, the Regal once served as a community gathering place for entertainment and social events. Its restoration positions it to once again anchor a revitalized commercial corridor in the West End.
In 2023, the Regal Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Project funding partners include the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Haile Foundation, Procter & Gamble, Duke Foundation, and Millstone Foundation.
About ROMAC:
The ROMAC’s mission is to celebrate, advance and preserve African and African American culture and achievement through the arts, history, and education, while also uplifting the rich diversity of artists and cultures in the region.
To learn more, visit: https://theromac.org/
What’s Next:
Roof replacement will kick off in 2026 to prepare the building for future development and prevent further interior deterioration.
Molds have been made of the remaining original plasterwork in the building’s interior to ensure historical accuracy in the final design and restoration efforts moving forward.
Impact:
Once complete, the revitalized Regal will become the new home for ROMAC and provide space for additional theatrical, musical, and arts organizations, as well as co-working space.Project Specs:
The project includes a full renovation of the existing structure to provide space for theatrical, musical, and arts organizations, as well as co-working space.
Partners
