The Granada Theater has been a steadfast part of Dallas’s Lower Greenville neighborhood for 80 years. Originally opened as a movie theater, it’s been operating as a popular live-music venue since 2004. On Sunday, though, it was announced that the historic business has been sold and will soon be transformed into a wellness center known as Bathhouse.
Granada’s owners, Julia Garton and Mike Schoder, shared the news on Instagram. Their post reads, in part, “After 34 years on Greenville Avenue, we have made the decision to sell the Granada Theater and Sundown at the Granada, and bring this remarkable chapter of our lives to a close — For 22 years at the Granada and 15 years at Sundown, we’ve poured our hearts into these places, the music, the people, and the thousands of unforgettable nights and memories made within their walls.”
Garton and Schoder noted that events will be held at the venue through April 17, 2027 but its restaurant, Sundown, will close to the public on November 1, 2026. All private events previously scheduled at Sundown will proceed as planned.
The duo added in their statement that, “Walking away isn’t easy. But sometimes knowing when to turn the page is as important as knowing when to start the story.”
In terms of what prompted them to sell the Granada to the New York-based spa company, Garton and Schoder said it became increasingly difficult to operate a live music venue in a post-COVID world. They wrote on Instagram, “Rising costs, shifting audiences, and corporate consolidation have made life increasingly difficult for independent venues.”
While it was a difficult decision to make, the two felt as though they inherently knew “when it [was] time for a new chapter,” after having already witnessed the ways in which the industry has changed following the shift from records to CDs. They, presumably, believe live music may follow suit.
The Granada Theater’s storied history
The Granada Theater opened its doors for the first time on January 16, 1946 with a screening of the now-iconic film “Mildred Pierce,” starring Joan Crawford. Back then it was operated by Phil Isley Enterprises. It remained a movie theater for 56 years, often changing hands over decades—in the 1970s, it even became an adult-film theater.
Before Julia Garton and Mike Schoder bought the business in 2004, it had been refurbished into a live music venue about two years prior. Notable acts have performed in its historic walls, including Jeff Tweedy, System of a Down, St. Vincent, and Portugal. The Man.
All of that will now come to a sweeping close in 2027 when Bathhouse takes over and opens its sauna/spa/massage space to the public. TBD on when Bathhouse will officially open, as additional details and timelines are still forthcoming.
Many people have already expressed sadness and disappointment about Granada’s closure over on Instagram. One Greenville resident wrote, “This is detrimental to the lower greenville neighborhood. The only live music venue for a few miles and a beautiful historic one at that. It’s incredibly sad to watch everything cool and unique about an area you live work and play in completely change to corporate slop concepts that no one really wants.”
It’s a shared sentiment among the over 900 comments already flooding the venue’s page. Garton and Schoder, for their part, understand why people are upset about the change but are hopeful the spa will positively impact the neighborhood.
They wrote, “Granada brought people together for the music while Sundown gave them a place to gather over food, drinks, and friendship. Bathhouse will bring people together through wellness, relaxation, and connection. Different experiences, but the same spirit of community.”
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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