NJ's The Wellmont Theater being upgraded (and staying open)
The area surrounding Montclair, NJ’s The Wellmont Theater, which opened in 1922, is being redeveloped, including a new parking garage that will allow direct backstage access for artists and crew, and a mixed-use district tied to the theater. From Venues Now:
The mixed-use piece encompasses 3.5 acres that will include 200 apartments, retail, restaurants and office space. The concept includes converting the street fronting the theater to a plaza featuring live entertainment, vendors and concessions, similar to the Highline in New York, Genova said. The idea is to create activity on the plaza on event days and when the theater is dark, he said.
Construction is expected to start in mid-May and take up to three years to complete, officials said. The venue will remain open and has shows booked into June.
“We’re creating sort of a mini-campus with year-round programming,” said Anthony Morrison, hired about a month ago as the Wellmont’s general manager. “I’m trying to help get this place to the next level.”
As the article quote above mentions, The Wellmont Theater will stay open through the redevelopment. A new restaurant tied to the venue, The Pharmacie Liquor Bar, just opened last week.
Upcoming shows include the BrooklynVegan-presented Broken Social Scene show on April 8 (BV presale is Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10 AM), and Anthony Jeselnik on June 2 (tickets).
