Historic theatre closing after 97 years in Denver

the end of an era for a long time Denver movie theater the Esquire theater at 6th and Downing announced it will close in July 9 news reporter Evan krugle is live outside the theater with look at its future and some of the students who tried to save it Evan yeah Kim despite being here for 97 years the Esquire doesn't have any sort of landmark designation now a group was fighting to change that but those efforts seem to have come up short after the city approved major changes to both the inside an

d outside of this theater it's Sleek it's pretty there are some buildings it's just nice to look at honestly that seem to stand the test of time all right one word I would say elegant the E it's all it's all minimalist the S choire theater is a place Sam Bryant comes nearly every week to catch a movie with his friends Eric and Cade yeah they got the classic film series which I just adore um yeah they're they're always playing some good films it's hard to resist but even the best movie has an end

ing and after nearly 100 years the esquire's credits are about to roll Landmark Theaters receiving permission from the city of Denver Tuesday night to close the theater and begin major Renovations here they basically uh made the decision that um you know this this isn't something they looking to continue as a theater and plans are moving forward for the current owners of the the building to redevelop the property to be office space and Retail and restaurants Sam says the news hit them hard it wa

s a blow initially for sure the movie Buffs have been using their High School senior Capstone project to try and get the theater a landmark designation which would have at least preserved the outside of the building it basically just uh you know protects the the property in the exterior of the building saying you know this is something that matters this is something we need to keep in our culture and while the building has not received that designation the project will be one of the first to use

a new Denver program which adapts existing buildings for New Uses while preserving their historic features it means while the movie theater will be gone the building itself will remain hopefully it we'll just be uh you know it'll be a good chapter in the in the history of the Esquire you know and uh it it'll continue on maybe not as a Theater showing movies but as long as the the Legacy lives on is what matters now those students tell us they will continue fighting for that Landmark designation

the city tells us that's likely no longer a possibility now that these changes have been approved meanwhile if you're hoping to catch a film here at the Esquire you have until July to do so Kim and Tom a lot of people will Evan and and props to young people for believing in something that so many of us us respect and admire so good for them all right thanks