Beloved theater to close doors in 2027

From Staff Reports

After 34 years on Greenville Avenue, Mike Schoder and Julia Garton made the decision to sell the Granada Theater and Sundown at Granada. 

According to Wikipedia, the theater was built in 1946 as a movie house. In 1977, it was converted to a concert hall, only to revert to a movie theater soon afterwards. In 2004, it was again opened as a concert hall.

Schoder issued a statement regarding the closure: “For 22 years at 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.  Walking away isn’t easy. But sometimes knowing when to turn the page is as important as knowing when to start the story.

The live music industry has changed dramatically. Rising costs, shifting audiences and corporate consolidation have made life increasingly difficult for independent venues. Having lived through the transformation of the record industry with CD World, I’ve learned to recognize when it’s time for a new chapter.

But this decision goes deeper than business.

A friend recently told me, ‘We’ve got 20 good summers left.’ Those words stuck. At 58, having lost far too many friends in their 40’s and 50’s, in the music business, I’ve started thinking differently about time. How quickly it passes, how much of life we devote to our work, and how important it is to appreciate the people and experiences that matter most in the end.   

We also wanted to be thoughtful about what comes next. We turned down developers who envisioned hundreds of apartments and searched for a way to keep the music playing. Ultimately, we found a new future for this corner of Greenville Avenue with a concept called Bathhouse. 

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.

To our extraordinary employees, artists, neighbors and everyone who ever walked through our doors: THANK YOU. You made these places what they are. Julia and I will carry those memories forever.

Sundown’s restaurant closes November 1, with private events continuing through December 31, 2026. Granada will keep rockin’ through April 17, 2027.

We’re not done yet. We’ve got one last run of shows, one last round of memories and one heck of a farewell ahead. Come celebrate with us. Share your favorite memories with #GranadaTheater 

Always remember to Love Yourself, Mike & Julia”

Visit granadatheater.com for a list of upcoming shows.

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