Palm Springs Plaza Theatre restoration: Contractors and management firm search underway

The iconic Plaza Theatre, a historic landmark in downtown Palm Springs, is on the verge of a major transformation as it moves closer to a multi-million dollar restoration.

Potential contractor bidders had the opportunity to explore the 1936 theatre building on Wednesday, as they prepare to submit their bids for the grand undertaking.

J.R. Roberts, President of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, said their job will be crucial to the goal of incorporating the old with the new during the restoration process.

"Many of their questions were about how they incorporate the old with the new access for such a long project; they're asking very important structural questions," Roberts said.

The restoration project is expected to be a colossal task as it involves reviving the 700-seat theater. Roberts emphasized that bidders need to put in a tremendous amount of work to submit competitive bids and secure the contract.

While the exact cost of the restoration remains unknown, the Plaza Theatre Foundation has already raised more than $16 million to fund the project and create an endowment.

At Monday's council meeting, city leaders finalized their contract with the Plaza Theatre Foundation, granting them a 10-year agreement to operate and manage the theatre. The foundation will also collaborate with a professional management firm to handle the theater's day-to-day operations and programming.

Among the potential vendors being considered for the management role is Oak View Group, which built, owns, and operates Acrisure Arena in the valley.

To ensure the Plaza Theatre's success in the years to come, the city, as the owner of the building, committed to covering its utilities for at least the first four years of operation.

The Plaza Theatre Foundation is hopeful to finalize the contractor bid within the next month, with the restoration work anticipated to commence this fall.