Grand Illusion Cinema has signed a 10-year lease for a new home in Seattle’s University District, after losing its longtime venue in 2025. Brian Alter, who works with the cinema, said it plans to reopen in the former Varsity Theatre space a few blocks from its original location.
The building owner declined to renew the lease on the Grand Illusion’s original home, where the cinema had operated for 54 years. The old theater had about 70 seats and one screen; the new venue is seven times as large. The volunteer-run nonprofit’s team has been cleaning and preparing the space.
Alter expects the Grand Illusion to reopen by the end of 2026 or in early 2027. The cinema continued arranging screenings during its time without a dedicated venue.
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