The Project

The Salerno Building sits just east of the State Theater, and it’s key to the theater’s future. Connecting the two buildings makes room for a second, smaller screening room and a spacious, casual food and concessions area where people can gather before, during and after a movie.

Upstairs, the second floors of both buildings are planned as modern office and business incubation space for events, conferences and meetings.

A Second Screen

Greenstone Cinema

The Salerno Building is home to the State’s second, smaller screening room, the Greenstone Cinema, with stadium seating and Art Deco sconces. Out front, the new lobby serves popcorn, candy and drinks under a chandelier, with big windows looking out on Sheridan Street.

A man in a suit on the sidewalk in front of a storefront with Soda, Coca-Cola and Lunch signs, a glass block transom and a Schmidt Beer sign overhead — Soda, lunch and a Schmidt Beer sign on the corner

From the Archives

Soda, Lunch and Schmidt’s

In this old snapshot, a man in a suit pauses on the sidewalk in front of the corner storefront. Soda, Coca-Cola and Lunch signs fill the windows, a band of glass block runs above them and a Schmidt Beer sign hangs overhead.

Decades later the building had been wrapped in metal siding and yellow lap siding, and its ground floor was a Family Video store. Compare the old yellow side wall with today in the slider below.

The Work

Back to the Corner Storefront

The old siding came off down to the original boards, new sheathing and house wrap went on, a wall of storefront windows returned to the corner, and new siding and trim finished the job. Tap any photo to see it larger.

The Side Wall, Before & After

The side of the Salerno Building after renovation with new siding, red-trimmed windows and storefront glass

The side of the Salerno Building before renovation with yellow lap siding

BeforeAfter

Drag the handle to compare before and after.

Inside

Beadboard, Barnwood and Big Windows

The long interior was opened up and framed, the old beadboard was painted bright white, and reclaimed barnwood went up on the walls. Tap any photo to see it larger.

Down Below

The Lower Level

Under the storefront, old timber posts on stone footings still carry the building. The lower level was cleaned up and lit, with a new open-tread stair leading down beside a barnwood wall. The restrooms down here use doors saved from the State Theater, porthole windows and all.