It’s a new era for historic theater in KC’s 18th and Vine: ‘A monumental moment’
The Boone Theater reopened Friday with a ribbon-cutting and community open house, marking a milestone in the long-delayed effort to restore the historic venue in Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District.
The event drew developers, community members and local leaders for a first look inside the renovated building, which has sat largely unused for decades. The reopening follows an $8.7 million redevelopment project aimed at returning the nearly century-old structure to active use as a multi-purpose venue for performances, events and creative programming.
Attendees were able to walk through the building, view multiple levels of the space and see early signs of how the theater will function moving forward. The reopening comes as construction continues along 18th Street and the district prepares for increased activity tied to broader redevelopment efforts.
“The process is an interesting thing,” said project backer Tim Duggan. “Eighteen months ago, we invited everyone in to see the building during the groundbreaking. In hindsight, we probably should not have done that. But we have come through an intentional, collaborative process with ups and downs. This is phase 1A of phases two, three, four and five.”
The project is led by Vine Street Collaborative LLC, a development group formed by local partners working to expand investment along Vine Street. The Boone Theater is part of a broader push to reactivate the district through a combination of historic preservation and new programming.
The building has been reconfigured to support a range of uses, including live performances, film screenings and private events. Office space has also been incorporated into the upper floors, with several tenants expected to operate inside the building as activity ramps up.
“It is incredible when we think about the decades that the Boone sat empty and to know where we are today, to breathe life back into it,” said Jason Parson, another of the key backers of the revival effort. “You can just tell it was waiting to be resuscitated, and we have done that.”
For decades, the building stood at risk of further deterioration as earlier efforts to stabilize and repurpose it stalled. At one point, city officials were working to keep the structure from collapsing, installing supports and fencing to hold it in place while long-term plans remained uncertain.
“We thought we had to preserve this building because the biggest challenge we had was trying to keep it from falling in,” U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said. “But everything that appears to be dead is not dead. If there is an illustration of resurrection, it is right here.”
Reinvesting in 18th and Vine
The reopening is also being framed within the broader context of development across 18th and Vine. The district, long recognized for its role in Black cultural history, is seeing renewed investment aimed at strengthening its identity as a destination. The theater sits near the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum, contributing to a growing concentration of cultural institutions.
Developers say the Boone Theater will help address a gap in the district’s infrastructure by providing a consistent venue for programming that has been limited in recent years. With the ability to host movies, stage productions and concerts, the building is expected to draw visitors back to the area on a more regular basis.
“It is a reflection of the historic jazz district when you think about having investment in such an iconic structure and being able to see, through hard work and many years of trying to put the pieces together, that it is happening,” Parson said. “We are all proud of it.”
For Shomari Benton, the project carries personal significance tied to family history and the district’s legacy. He said the effort to restore the theater reflects a broader commitment to preserving the role Black Kansas City has played in shaping the city’s identity.
“Its personal for me, as my grandpa was a Kansas City Call stalwart,” Benton said. “As a Kansas Citian, it is fulfilling to be a part of reviving this historical treasure in this historic neighborhood.”
Activating the theater for KC
Inside the building, tenants are already preparing to activate the space. Among them is Joseph Macklin, who plans to operate a recording studio on the second floor. The space is expected to serve both professional clients and students, adding a training component to the building’s overall use.
“It’s been about two years of planning to get to this point,” Macklin said. “To have a place of comfort right here on 18th and Vine is a monumental moment for us.”
Community members who attended the reopening also pointed to the broader significance of the moment. For some, the event marked a continuation of earlier redevelopment efforts that began decades ago.
“It’s crazy because I was around when the district first started coming back,” said Sean Tyler. “The time between then and now has been long, but it’s good to finally see things moving again.”
While the building has reopened, not all planned elements are in place. The Black Movie Hall of Fame, which is expected to be housed in the theater, remains in development and will open at a later date.
Still, organizers say the ability to bring the public inside the building signals a shift from planning to activation. For those involved, the focus now turns to building consistent programming and ensuring the space remains active beyond the opening.
“The renovation is spectacular,” said local film critic Shawn Edwards. “Now the community will get a chance to see that progress firsthand.”
