Mobile invests $11.3M to revive the city’s Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District ‘The Avenue’

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The Ace theatre, a historic building that closed in 1971 is set to become home to the performances of the Excelsior band after renovation. The theatre is located in the Civil Rights and Cultural Heritage District or “The Avenue,” the area has served as the cultural, social and economic hub of Mobile’s African American community.

From the 1800s to the 20th century “The Avenue” was a booming neighborhood for black Mobilians. However in the 1970s the area never recovered after The federal urban renewal plan resulted in the demolition and displacement of buildings, such as the previously popular Ace Theatre.

The building has been sitting vacant and boarded up for over 50 years. Located on the corner of congress and MLK.

Mobile County has developed an 11.3 Million dollar master plan to preserve and improve historic sites such as the Ace Theatre within Mobile’s Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District. Spearheaded by commissioner Merceria Ludgood.

“I grew up going to movies on the avenue so I have those kind of memories and I know how important that felt. People throughout mobile county talk about the avenue, how they miss what they had there and what it once was. The things that we’re doing here is stuff that people have been talking about for decades. It just happened to align where there was vision and also resources to do it. We were able to take some American Rescue Plan dollars and invest into this community,” says Ludgood.

To restore the Ace Theatre back as a popular entertainment spot is no easy task, as the history of the area has been lost over the years. Tall Architects, an architectural company based in Mississippi, is working to restore the building.

Founding partner Mark Talley says “What’s different about this project is that there isn’t a lot of interior to work with.. And there’s not much left of what it looked like in its heyday.”

The Theatre is easily recognized with the iconic red brick, yet the signage is gone, and the greenery is overgrown.

“There’s this wonderful brick shell, we’re having to recreate something from very little documentation,” Talley says.

The Excelsior band is entering its 142nd year of performing, and also teaches youth music education. Hosea London, leader and manager of the Excelsior Band, says if the band’s initial members knew they’d be getting a permanent building, they wouldn’t be able to believe it.

“They would be amazed because we are talking about 1883, so many things have changed to get us to this point. We’re still trying to gather history because there was not a lot of history documented about the band. I think they would be amazed that after 142 years.. Nothing lasts that long, especially not a band,” says London.

The revitalization of Mobile’s civil rights and cultural heritage district will restore spaces like the Ace Theatre as a cultural hub in the neighborhood and surrounding area of “The Avenue.

Porchlight is a real estate development company based in Mobile, working with the city on the Civil Rights and Cultural Heritage District master plan.

Real Estate Director John Ruzic says, “That district spans a portion of MLK avenue, former Davis Avenue, which was really a center of black social and economic life. This building is one of the key historic properties that’s left in that district, that promotes the history and enjoyment of jazz music in Mobile.”

Officials expect the renovation to be compete in 2027.

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