The long-dormant Fox Venice Theatre at 620 S. Lincoln Blvd may finally have a new tenant. Last week, Trader Joe’s filed a formal application with Los Angeles City Planning to convert the historic 1950s cinema into a 12,585-square-foot grocery store.
The move follows years of uncertainty for the site, which has remained largely vacant since its stint as an indoor swap meet ended.
Site history: from cinema to grocery?
The building is a designated historic asset with a complex operational history:
- Grand Opening (1951): It debuted as a premier Art Deco theater operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. It opened with a preview of the feature “Meet Me After the Show,” a 20th Century Fox film starring Betty Grable.
- Revival Era (1970s): As the film industry changed, the Fox became a famous “revival house,” specializing in classic and independent cinema.
- Transition (1980s–Present): After a short stint as an art house, the theater was converted into an indoor swap meet. While the interior was heavily modified, the iconic exterior marquee remains intact.
Project specifications
According to the city filings, the proposed store will feature:
- Operating Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
- Footprint: Approximately 12,500 square feet.
- Zoning Challenges: The site has been vacant for several years following the closure of the swap meet. Developers will need adapt the windowless, high-ceiling theater structure to meet modern retail building codes and grocery logistics.
A modern revival?
The move into the Fox Venice site aligns with the strategic evolution of Trader Joe’s, a company that began in Pasadena in 1967. If the Venice application is approved, this site will join the nearby Wilshire Boulevard location as part of a significant Westside expansion, finally bringing a permanent use to one of the neighborhood’s most debated historic landmarks.
For the residents of Venice, the prospect of a local grocer is a convenience, but the resurrection of the Fox site is an event. As the project moves through the labyrinth of L.A. City Planning, one question lingers: if the doors finally open, will shoppers still feel the phantom chill of a 1950s movie palace, or will the history of the Fox finally fade into the credits?
