The Carolina Theatre was built in 1927 and was once a major performance venue for the Charlotte region, hosting such talent as Bob Hope, Katharine Hepburn and Elvis Presley. The theatre, once a jewel in Charlotte’s crown, has stood largely vacant since 1978. The Charlotte City Council entrusted Foundation For The Carolinas with ownership of the 36,000-square-foot historic Carolina Theatre. In June 2013, the City of Charlotte entered into a contract with the Foundation to renovate and restore the property. The theatre will be transformed into a unique civic gathering and convening space that will serve as a venue for lectures, symposia, town hall meetings and other forms of community engagement. As a secondary focus, the theatre will host arts & entertainment offerings such as film, comedy, and music. The Carolina Theatre and the Foundation’s headquarters facility will be conjoined to create one thriving hub for civic activities. The Carolina Theatre will be part of a broader collection of civic venues named Belk Place in honor of the families of Claudia Belk and the late John M. Belk, and Katherine Belk and the late Thomas M.
