The Empire Theater, located on West Portal Avenue, has been a San Francisco staple for many years. 

     Known for its classic old timey look and accessible location being right by West Portal MUNI station and Stonestown Mall, the theater was a true definition of an oldie, but a goodie. 

     The theater has been closed for more than five years now ever since being bought out from the Veteran San Francisco builder DM Development Company. The company has taken on tons of redevelopment projects ranging from neighborhoods in the Marina, and Hayes Valley, and Potrero Hill. The plans for the famously closed theater is to knock it down and build a nine story, 64 unit building apartment complex. 

     The reason for the new renovations is so that higher end retail and restaurant businesses will be more likely to set up, and show and explore more lease space in the West Portal neighborhood. With West Portal being such a popular and classic SF spot, it draws concern in the community with those who have grown up in or around the area. 

     Interviewing multiple San Francisco native students and teachers at Archbishop Riordan who grew up with the theater in their lives, brought new outlooks on the ever changing neighborhood. Brian Morgan, a baseball coach and Economics teacher at Archbishop Riordan, said, “I used to go there when I was in high school, and saw movies there in the 80s. It’s probably gonna be beneficiary for stores, and I feel that’s great. I’m disappointed that the city will put in a big building. It doesn’t fit the west portal vibe.” 

     Students also have great memories there. 

     Student Body President Ben Parker ’26 said,  “I remember watching all the old Avengers movies, especially Age of Ultron with my dad and brother,” 

     Catie McGoldrick ’26 said, “I feel kinda sad. I made a lot of memories there as a kid when I would go watch movies with my dad.”