PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — After more than a year of public debate, the Palm Beach Town Council has approved a revised redevelopment plan for the historic Paramount Theatre, allowing a private club, public café, retail space, and residential use inside the landmarked building.
The Paramount Theatre building, at 139 N. County Road, was constructed in 1926, according to the town’s Planning and Zoning staff report. The structure opened as a movie palace and later served as a theater, church, and retail space. Much of the building has remained vacant in recent years.
The property is owned by WEG Paramount LLC, led by Lester Woerner, which purchased the site in 2021.
Earlier redevelopment proposals were denied or delayed after residents raised concerns about traffic, parking, and the overall intensity of the project.
A scaled-down plan
Town planning documents describe the approved proposal as a significantly reduced version of earlier plans that sought approval for a much larger private club and additional development…