Flower Theater, which opened in 1950, is getting a $400,000 facelift.
Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Montgomery County, is reconstructing the historic facade of the former theater in Long Branch to its original condition.
Since 1996, when the theater closed, the building on Flower Avenue has either been home to a house of worship or vacant. Currently, Iglesia Jesus es Vida church uses the space.
Plans include replacing the neon sign, relighting the marquee and restoring the ticket booth. Construction has begun and is expected to last nine weeks.
Once completed, officials hope others will invest in the theater and open it to commercial tenants.
The work began in 2021 when Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development provided a $75,000 grant. It also is funded by Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Cafritz Foundation, and MHP.
“In its current state, the Flower Theater has been a drag in the commercial strip, but the building has the potential to strengthen not only the immediately adjacent businesses but the entire Long Branch business district,” said Chris Gillis, Director of Policy & Neighborhood Development for MHP.
“We are excited to breathe new life into the theater and create the conditions that will allow it to become an anchor of the community once again.”
Donohue Construction is general contractor for the project. “Donohoe is excited for the opportunity to revitalize a historic part of Silver Spring’s Long Branch community,” said Assistant Project Manager Hunter Gardner.
According to the website Cinema Treasures, John J. Zink and Frederick L.W. Moehle were the theater’s architects. It opened Feb. 15, 1950 when it showed the film “The Great Lover,” starring Bob Hope, according to Steve Woerner, Cinema Treasures.
In 1983, two screens were built next to the original theater. Those small theaters closed in May 1995. The Flower Theater closed in January 1996 after sustaining flood damage.
Celebrating Community Development Week – highlighting the restoration of the Flower Theater Facade. TY @MHPartners @Longbranch_MD pic.twitter.com/8CS2BuWJ3G
— Lorig Charkoudian (@LCharkoudian) October 17, 2023
Celebrating Community Development Week – checking out the restoration of the Flower Theater Facade. @Longbranch_MD @MHPartners pic.twitter.com/O8TN4bROka
— Councilmember Kate Stewart (she/her) (@cmkatestewart) October 18, 2023
