The city of Guadalupe will host a groundbreaking event for the historic Royal Theatre renovation project, 1 p.m. Dec. 1, at the Royal Theatre, 848 Guadalupe St.
The building has remained unused since it was red-tagged in 1991 due to an electrical fire. The city began the process of determining the future of the project in 2021 and hired a design team, Andrew Goodwin Designs, to start the process in July 2021, with community meetings held to discuss what residents wanted to see at the Royal Theatre.
The city’s aim was to convert the historic movie theater into a community performing arts center.
On Sept. 8, 2022, Guadalupe was awarded $4,889,121 from the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the renovation of the Royal Theatre.
Although the city applied for $10 million, which was the maximum grant amount at the time of the application (November 2021), the EDA later informed the city that the maximum had been reduced to $5 million due to the number of applicants.
With the loss of $5 million, which would have fully funded the project, the city reached out to State Sen. Monique Limón, hoping to secure additional funding.
Limón was able to secure an additional $5 million in state funds for the project, passing through the California Arts Council in August 2022.
On Oct. 14, 2025, the construction contract was awarded to Pre Con Industries for a total of $9,780,000.
The award includes the base bid, at the amount stated, with the contract also included five alternates, that were conditioned on finding the funding to pay for the alternates.
The five alternates are:
- Existing building audio visual full build-out.
- Exterior front plaza, exterior amphitheater, exterior stage, and perimeter walls.
- New building interior floor finishes, wall finishes, ceiling finishes, fixtures, interior doors, and mechanical equipment for kitchen, restrooms, green room, classrooms, lobby and concessions
- New building kitchen full build-out.
- New building audio visual full build-out.
(Each has been estimated and a city capital campaign will focus its efforts on funding these five alternates to ensure the project opens with all components completed.)
Presently, the capital campaign information can be found at
https://guadalupecac.org/donate-to-the-royal-theater-capital-campaign/.
Some of the work to be completed at the Royal Theatre includes renovating the historic building according to the California Historic Code, and constructing a connected one-story building that will transform the historic movie theater into a performing arts center.
The project will also feature the addition of a plaza and an amphitheater.
For more email the project manager Tom Brandeberry at brandeberrytom@gmail.com or call 916-281-7638.