Historic Ace Theatre gets approval for renovation in Mobile’s Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The Ace Theatre, vacant for more than five decades, is one step closer to hosting live performances again after receiving approval from the Mobile City Council for renovations.

The historic theater will become a 100-seat performance venue and permanent home for the renowned Excelsior Band. City leaders say the project could help revive Mobile’s Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District, “The Avenue”, once the heart of African American life in the city.

Historic venue prepares for next chapter

The ACE Theatre served as a gathering place for entertainment and culture starting in the 1800s before sitting empty for more than 50 years. Recent approval from the Mobile City Council has cleared the way for renovations.

Hosea London, who is celebrating 50 years with the Excelsior Band this year, wants to use the space to spread music education to local youth.

“We are very excited. We’ve been looking for a place for some years. We finally got to where we’ll have space. It’s an education-entertainment venue. So we wanna bring that to the community,” London said.

Avenue District’s cultural significance

From the 1800s through the mid-20th century, the Avenue was the cultural, social, and economic center for Mobile’s African American community. In the 1970s, the area never recovered after the federal urban renewal plan resulted in the demolition and displacement of buildings, including the previously popular Ace Theatre.

Eric Finley, a longtime Avenue resident, said the area was once thriving.

“That Avenue was like our black main street. Growing up to witness that and live during that period, you could shop all day long. It was just one business after another, owned by African Americans that just wanted to be successful. So it’s hard to catch up 80 years with no representation. Now we’re in that repair stage and revitalization and it’s exciting. So when you bring life back in, that’s going to generate commerce and bring this community up to par with where it should have been,” Finley said.

Approval process and parking concerns

Before construction could move forward, developers needed approval from the Mobile Board of Appeals for a use variance allowing a concert and event venue in the downtown development district. The board voted unanimously to approve the request, determining the project would not harm the public interest and would preserve the spirit of the neighborhood.

Some nearby residents voiced concerns about limited parking and what added traffic could mean for the neighborhood. Developers say they worked with the city to find a solution.

“What we found was the city of Mobile has come up with a great plan for street parking in the area, particularly along the stretch of north Lawrence and Broad, and we were able to locate approximately 260 parking spots near the site and as well as two organizations offering use of their private parking areas,” said John Ruzic, developer with Porchlight LLC.

The project must still meet several conditions before permits are issued, including full compliance with city codes and additional design reviews. Developers say once complete, the revitalized ACE Theatre will host performances and music education for youth.

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