The heritage-status Regent Theatre at 551 Mt. Pleasant has been put on the market for $7,400,000. It’s a hefty price for the historic old movie house. The place can’t be legally torn down so any new owner has to think of a commercial purpose that fits. The former Bayview Playhouse was rescued twice by owners when it was renovated by Bruno’s Fine Foods and later by Shoppers Drug Mart. Worse things could happen to the Regent and to the Mount Pleasant Village BIA. Listing
Built as the Belsize
The Regent Theatre has had three incarnations. The large “B” in permanent stone on the front of the theatre is a clue that it was built as the Belsize Theatre to match the pleasant residential street beside it. Both were named after fashionable Belsize Park in the London suburb of Camden. Later the Regent had an exciting period as a live entertainment venue when it was known as the Crest.
