A Century-Old Classic Reborn? Inside the Bold Pitch to Save LA’s Westlake Theatre
A piece of Los Angeles history might be on the verge of a dramatic second act. The Westlake Theatre, a nearly 2,000-seat landmark overlooking MacArthur Park, could soon be transformed into a thriving multi-use arts and community center.
Nonprofit theater company The Strindberg Laboratory has unveiled an ambitious proposal to buy and restore the 1926 movie palace located at 634–642 S. Alvarado Street. If the plan comes to fruition, the towering venue will host live performances, film screenings, creative workshops, community meetings, and office spaces for local nonprofits.
The Vision: An $8 Million Community Arts Hub
The grand revival won’t come cheap. Project organizers estimate that acquiring and rehabilitating the classic building will cost between $6 million and $8 million. To kickstart the effort, the organization is putting together a steering committee of local leaders and experts while preparing to apply for government grants and private funding.
Proposed Features for the Restored Space
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Live Performance & Cinema: Modernized staging for plays, concerts, and movie screenings.
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Community Center: Space for public workshops, town halls, and civic gatherings.
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Nonprofit Hub: Designated office areas for local community organizations.
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Merchant Integration: Space to keep existing ground-floor small businesses in place.
Community interest is already building. A recent walkthrough tour brought together key local stakeholders, including representatives from the Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC), LA Commons, the Central City Neighborhood Partners, and the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation to explore collaborative ideas.
From Vaudeville to Swap Meet: A Storied Past
Originally opened during the golden age of cinema in 1926, the Westlake Theatre entertained Angelenos for decades before transitioning into a indoor swap meet in 1991.
Over the years, several redevelopment plans have stalled:
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2008: The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA) bought the building to build a live performance venue, but the agency was dissolved in 2012.
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2018: 634 Alvarado LLP (an affiliate of Koreatown developer Jamison Properties) acquired the property with restoration goals, but progress stalled, leading the site back to the market in 2023.
Despite the vacant upper floors, ground-floor vendors continue to operate today. Michael Bierman, founder of The Strindberg Laboratory, made it clear that displacement is strictly off the table. “These merchants are vital members of this neighborhood,” Bierman emphasized. “We aren’t going to barge in and push anyone out. We want an open dialogue to figure out how we can grow together.”
