Avon Theatre in Stamford Launches Transformative Renovation Project of Historic Movie Theater

On Wednesday a crowd gathered outside the Avon Theatre on Bedford Street for an official groundbreaking ceremony for Avon reCreated, a transformative renovation project of the historic movie theater.

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons shared remarks, along with Avon Theatre leadership, elected officials, project partners, and community supporters.

Avon Theatre Executive Director Peter H. Gistelinck described the event as marking the beginning of a new chapter of the Avon’s 87-year history.

“This groundbreaking is more than the start of construction,” Gistelinck said. “This milestone reflects years of planning, fundraising, collaboration and what the Avon means to Stamford and Fairfield County.”

He said the capital campaign has surpassed $15 million, remarkable for a non-profit movie theater.

The new theater will feature three state-of the art cinemas, all new seating, expanded educational facilities, welcome community gathering spaces including a cafe and wine bar and will be completely ADA compliant. Also, Gistelinck said the renovation will bring the latest projection and sound technology including a 4K laser projection system and Dolby Atmos sound.

The renovation will be done while preserving the beauty and history of the beloved landmark, and was fully endorsed by the Historic Preservation Council.

Board co-chair Susan Cullman said the Avon opened in 1939, accommodating more than 600 moviegoers at a time. Today, the Avon operates as a non profit, thanks to the foresight and generosity of Deborah and Charles Royce, for whom the theater is renamed.

Today the Avon is the only theater in Fairfield County dedicated to showing independent films and documentaries.

Ms Cullman described the Avon Theatre as anchor not only to Bedford Street, but to Stamford, with a significant economic impact on the city.

“We have 3,000 members and each year it brings an incremental $400,000 to the businesses and restaurants in downtown from movie-goers, and many of them come from surrounding towns,” Cullman said. “Our goal is not only bringing the Avon to the 21st century, but also to create long-term financial sustainability for the theater so  that it is here for generations to come.”

The Avon is closed for construction, which began in January 2026, and is slated to reopen in Spring 2027.

In the meantime, they launched “Avon on Tour” partnering with The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Darien Library, Museum of Contemporary Art Connecticut (MoCA CT) in Westport, Mill River, Ferguson Library and Stamford Town Center.

Mayor Simmons thanked the Stamford Board of Reps for voting to include $500,000 in the city budget toward the project.

“This is an iconic cultural gem in our city – one of the few remaining independent theaters. It’s really part of the heart and soul of our downtown such a vibrant place to enjoy a movie,” Simmons said. “It’s more than just a theater. It’s an amazing gathering space at a time when increasingly people are isolated and not talking to their neighbors. It’s a place to bring people together.”

“But more importantly, it’s a major source of of joy and inspiration, as part of our arts and culture initiative in our city. We all know what joy we feel from going to a movie.”