JERSEY CITY – The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency announced that a total of four bids were received for the restoration and management of the historic Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Journal Square.
The respondents included: AEG Live/Mana Fine Arts, Ace Theatrical group, Catch Holdings LLC, and Live Nation/Jones Lang LaSalle.
Live Nation and AEG are the two largest music venue management companies in the world, and ACE Theatrical Group is currently designated by the city of New York to restore the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and is a nationally-renowned theatrical management and development firm. Each respondent provided in addition 20 designated performance days to be administered by the Friends of the Loew’s in Jersey City.
Additionally, the Mayor Steven Fulop and the JCRA announced the formation of an RFP Review Committee that includes members of the community to analyze the proposals.
“The RFP process is proceeding exactly as we had hoped with world renowned companies responding while partnering with terrific community organizations to make sure that Jersey City residents have a top notch facility for everyone,” said Mayor Fulop. “The restoration of the Loew’s Theatre is one of the most important projects we are undertaking as an administration, as it is both central to the revitalization of Journal Square and the expansion of our cultural arts community.”
The Friends of the Loew’s (FOL), a nonprofit group that handles most the theater’s programming, is suing the city to halt new management from taking over, a case that is due to be heard in Superior Court in early May. FOL currently has the contract for management of the historic theater. – By Al Sullivan