The Cleveland Park Historical Society

Could it be? Yes, it could. The art deco Uptown Theater, which closed in March 2020 when AMC Theaters left the space, might become a Landmark Theater. The iconic building’s owners, the Pedas family, are in discussions with Landmark Theaters about taking over the space. The company is the largest movie theatre chain in the U.S. dedicated to exhibiting independent and foreign films. It’s pretty exciting news, and Cleveland Park is abuzz in anticipation.

CPHS’s Save the Uptown committee has been engaged since September 2020 in an effort to preserve this centerpiece of our historic commercial district. We are hopeful that these talks continue in a positive direction. There are many details for the two parties to work out, though, as the Uptown needs renovation work and currently lacks a projector and sound equipment. In support of this effort, the ANC3C commissioners recently voted to approve giving Landmark a liquor license. Beer and wine are sold at Landmark’s E Street and Bethesda Row locations.

And there’s more: in October 2020, CPHS co-sponsored the DC Preservation League’s landmark nomination of the Uptown. While the theater has been protected since 1987 as a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District, separate landmark status would bring a higher level of scrutiny and protection to the Uptown’s exterior. The Historic Preservation Office has assured CPHS that the landmark application will be taken up early in 2022.