Once a highlight of Gainesville culture, the Florida Theater spent years sitting unused, its face covered in dirt and graffiti. Now, following much work and planning, the theater is starting a new life.
The theater is currently undergoing renovations to fix the wear it has sustained over time. The project, which began in 2018 after the building entered new management, aims to turn the building back into a music venue. Current renovations include redoing the building’s facade and removing trash and debris from inside.
Since its September 1928 opening, the Florida Theater has lived many lives. What began as a movie theater would eventually become a full-time music venue called The Great Southern Music Hall, and it later became a dance club…