A jewel of Art Deco architecture in Salinas envisions a second life as an entertainment hub.

As Salinas is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, there is a quest to bring back to glory a historic local theater: El Rey. The downtown venue has been closed since 1989, and for the past five years has been undergoing restoration.

From removing the 30-plus layers of paint from the walls to reveal beautiful frescos, to finding the right 1930s-style fixtures including screws and light sockets, to matching the color and wood, the details rate high. “We’re very proud of what it’s going to look like,” says owner Kurt Mayer.

Mayer says he tried to purchase the theater more than once, and the third time was the charm. He paid $350,000 for the building in 2019. “I wasn’t specifically looking for a theater, but opportunities,” he notes.

“[Mayer] has meticulously brought back the beauty of the wood and the Art Deco interior,” says outgoing City Councilmember Steve McShane.

El Rey is a remnant of Salinas’ affluent era in early 20th century and the decadence of its downtown; it later became an X-rated movie theater. Located on the 300 block of Main Street, it’s surrounded by new businesses like Alvarado on Main and Live@Heirloom Pizza Co., as the neighborhood has been coming back to life.

The plan is to turn El Rey into a multipurpose facility to host concerts, weddings and meetings.

On April 9, the Salinas City Council approved the building’s historic designation. “This designation will offer some opportunity for grant support and low – or no-interest loans through the state or even federal sources,” McShane says.

The doors of El Rey are still closed, and restoration is expected to take at least two more years.