The Théâtre Plaza isn’t just a relic—it’s a survivor. First opened in 1922 on Plaza St-Hubert as a lavish movie palace adorned by famed cinema decorator Emmanuel Briffa, the theatre helped define the strip’s golden age, screening 35mm reels under Romanesque reliefs and stained glass. Through the postwar years and into the ’70s, the building evolved with the times: French-language films, a bowling alley, even a stretch as a shoe store and photo lab. But its architecture stayed remarkably intact.

Thanks to a 2003 revival led by Claudio Bustamante and a recent façade restoration overseen by architect Catherine Vézina, the Plaza has reemerged as a stunning venue for Montreal’s indie arts scene. Today, it hosts everything from album launches to theatre and genre film fests, with new life breathing through its 980-seat bones. Owned by François Roberge (La Vie en Rose), who opted for preservation over profit, the Plaza is both a tribute to Montreal’s cinematic past and a cornerstone of its creative present.