Construction will begin soon on a new movie theater that will go into a renovated building in downtown Davenport.
The Last Picture House will be located at 325 E. Second St. – near the foot of the Government Bridge. The new theater is the passion project of filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, both Bettendorf High School graduates. The pair co-wrote the 2018 smash hit horror film “A Quiet Place” and are currently working on the sci-fi thriller “65” that will star Academy Award nominee Adam Driver.
The new downtown movie theater is expected to include a two-screen theater, rooftop bar and social lounge, and is expected to open its doors later this year.
“Bryan Woods and I have always dreamed of opening a world-class movie theater in our hometown,” says co-owner and filmmaker Mr. Beck. “We’ve designed The Last Picture House to be a cinematic oasis in the Midwest that caters to cinephiles, casual movie-goers, and families alike.”
Twin Shores, an East Moline-based premier commercial construction and development company specializing in complex entertainment construction projects, recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the project. Twin Shores will oversee the renovation of the building. Paradigm Design, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the architect and engineering firm. Construction is expected to begin this month.
The 8,700-square-foot building is located in Davenport’s Motor Row and Industrial Historic District.
“It is tremendously gratifying to work in our local market alongside critically acclaimed filmmakers and QC natives Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. After building hundreds of entertainment facilities all over the United States, Twin Shores is thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring such a unique and exciting new business to our own Quad Cities community,” said Todd Friemel, Twin Shores’ principal and owner.
The Davenport project has been in the planning stages for years, but Mr. Beck said it inched forward in 2019 when they met local businessmen Jens Baker and Pete Stopulos.
“They had recently acquired a building at 325 East Second Street, which we all felt had great bones to house the movie theater concept. Since then, we formed the business model and have worked with Twin Shores and Paradigm Design to bring the idea to life,” Mr. Beck told the QCBJ last fall.
The Last Picture House was awarded a Destination Iowa grant for $600,000 to support the $3.7 million project. Destination Iowa is a federally funded state grant program geared toward projects promoting destination-building and tourism.
“I’m proud to help return to Davenport the theater experience that my grandfather, Jim Stopulos, tried to create at the Coronet all those years ago,” said the building’s co-owner Mr. Stopulos. “This will be another cool venue to add to the landscape of downtown that can be enjoyed by all who live in and visit the Quad City area.”
