Abandoned for decades, Montreal’s Empress Theatre getting new lease on life
Posted February 24, 2026 1:01 pm.
Last Updated February 24, 2026 4:26 pm.
After more than 30 years sitting vacant, the site of the former Empress Theatre in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is set for a new chapter.
The borough announced plans to dismantle the deteriorating building on Sherbrooke Street West while preserving its iconic neo-Egyptian façade.
In its place, an open-air cultural and community space will be created, with outdoor screenings, performances and artistic activities expected as early as fall 2027.
“It’s four, five administrations in a row that have been trying to eat this elephant in one bite,” said Snowdon city councillor Sonny Moroz. “And we believe that it takes a step forward process in order to get to the finish line.
“We believe that this project is one that NDG residents are waiting for.”
Officials say the transitional project will give residents a year-round gathering space, while paving the way for a permanent cultural development in the future.
“A place where families could get together, where artists, especially our local artists, can create something extraordinary for our local community,” said Stéphanie Valenzuela, the borough mayor for Côte-des-Neiges— Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
The borough estimates the project will cost roughly $10 million, with both construction and ongoing operating costs built into the local budget, though final numbers will depend on the upcoming tender process.
Concretely this first phase is something that we are capable of doing under our administration without any other partnership or without any other funding,” Valenzuela said.
Public consultations are scheduled for early this summer, with demolition work planned for 2027.
