REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM SHOWS US THE RESTORATION IN PITTSBURGH’S HILL DISTRICT. 60 YEARS AFTER CLOSING THE NEW GRANADA THEATER IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO OPENING UP SOON. IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. IT WAS ONCE THE PREMIER JAZZ AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE DURING THE 1900S. TODAY, THE NEW GRANADA THEATER IS CLOSER THAN EVER TO ITS REBIRTH AS A MULTI-PURPOSE EVENT SPACE. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND MANY HILL DISTRICT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN HOPEFUL. SO I AM EXCITED THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE OPENING THIS FIRST PHASE, WHICH WILL BE COMING SOON. THE COMMUNITY WILL BE HAVING GETTING A NOTIFICATION ABOUT THAT. MARIMBA ALLIANCE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THAT NONPROFIT GROUP HAS LED YEARS AND YEARS OF PLANNING TO REOPEN THE VENUE. CREWS CONTINUE TO FINISH WORK ON THE HISTORIC ART DECO MARQUEE AND AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, MORE RESTORATION WORK IS UNDERWAY TO THE PYTHIAN TEMPLE. THE ORIGINAL USE OF THE BUILDING WAS AS A SOCIAL HALL FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE HILL DISTRICT, AND IT WAS CALLED THE PYTHIAN TEMPLE. IT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS BY ONE OF AMERICA’S EARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARCHITECTS, MEMBERS OF THE HILL CDC SAY THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER WILL BE ONE OF THE ANCHOR TENANTS. SOME OF THE OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE A BLACK BOX THEATER AND LOUNGE, A JAZZ RECORDING STUDIO, AND ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATION. WE’LL ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING NEXT WEEK TO TALK IN MORE DETAIL, BUT IT’S BEEN MANY YEARS OF LABOR. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND WE’RE EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE NEXT PHASE AS WELL. NEXT UP FOR THE NEW GRANADA THEATER, A HARD HAT TOUR FOR MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TO SEE WHAT’S INSIDE. COVERI
Historic New Granada Theater in Pittsburgh’s Hill District is weeks from reopening after 60-year closure
Updated: 11:05 PM EDT Mar 13, 2026
Members of the Hill Community Development Corporation shared an update on the New Granada Theater with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Friday.It is weeks away from reopening after its doors closed for several decades, dating back to 1965. The space along Centre Avenue will become a multi-purpose event center.”This is a project that has been underway for many, many years,” says Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill CDC. “Many Hill District residents have been hopeful, so I am excited that we’re going to be opening this first phase, which will be coming soon. The community will be getting a notification about that.”Milliones says the venue will feature a Black Box theater, a jazz recording studio, and space for education and nonprofit organizations.”We’ll also have a community meeting next week to talk in more detail,” Milliones said. “It’s been many years of labor, and of course, you have to be excited about that, and we’re excited to move on to the next phase, as well.”Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Members of the Hill Community Development Corporation shared an update on the New Granada Theater with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Friday.
It is weeks away from reopening after its doors closed for several decades, dating back to 1965. The space along Centre Avenue will become a multi-purpose event center.
“This is a project that has been underway for many, many years,” says Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill CDC. “Many Hill District residents have been hopeful, so I am excited that we’re going to be opening this first phase, which will be coming soon. The community will be getting a notification about that.”
Milliones says the venue will feature a Black Box theater, a jazz recording studio, and space for education and nonprofit organizations.
“We’ll also have a community meeting next week to talk in more detail,” Milliones said. “It’s been many years of labor, and of course, you have to be excited about that, and we’re excited to move on to the next phase, as well.”
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.