Overview

The Granada Theater is a distinctive example of the Spanish Churrigueresque style. It was the first neighborhood theater to show movies with sound. 

• Location: 3022 Hennepin Avenue
• Neighborhood: East Bde Maka Ska

Guidelines

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Historic profile

The Granada Theater is a distinctive example of the Spanish Churrigueresque style. It was the first neighborhood theater to show movies with sound.

The theater was named after the town of Granada, Spain, a center of Moorish learning and culture. The theater originally had a large projecting "Granada" sign with a rectangular marquee. In 1966, they removed the sign, installed a new marquee, and remodeled the lobby. The auditorium was one of the first examples of stadium seating in the city. The floor angles so that the rear seats are higher than those in the front.

Local architects Liebenberg and Kaplan designed the theater. They were well known for their theater designs. The front elevation is clad in smooth Kasota stone. There are four carved niches with decorative iron railings. Above the marquee, there are three tall arched windows separated by decorated pilasters. The parapet along the top of the building is elaborately detailed.

The interior resembles a Spanish garden. Small false balconies, balustrades, and arched windows show the Churrigueresque style. Stars and clouds are projected onto the curved ceiling like the night sky. Artificial trees add to the illusion of being outdoors. This was a popular theme for auditoriums in the 1920s, but the Granada Theater is the only remaining example in Minneapolis.

The Granada was renamed the Suburban World Theater in 1954. Since 2000, it has been used a dinner theater and a venue for performances and special events.