For decades, the ACE Theater on Grand Avenue has stood as a historic monument for blacks in Coconut Grove. During a time of segregation in the 1950s and '60s, the theater provided blacks with a place to gather, watch popular movies and cartoons and offered employment opportunities.
Although the theater has been a significant monument to the black community for decades, it has been a diminishing landmark. But last Tuesday, Miami's Historic and Environmental Preservation Board officially named the theater a “historic site,” the reports.
The theater is filled with fond memories for Coconut Grove residents, who are excited about the prospect of a re-opening. A full renovation is estimated to cost $2.3 million, but the historical designation might help owners obtain funds to do this.