TAMPA, Fla. — Jill Witecki's walk to work at the Tampa Theatre is right out of 1926. In her nearly 10 years there, she’s watched it transform.

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa Theatre is getting refurbished just before its 100th birthday in 2026

  • Phase two of the restoration project includes $14 million from Tampa’s Downtown Redevelopment Agency

  • Jill Witecki, Tampa Theatre’s vice president and director of marketing and community relations, has watched the theater transform over time

  • Tampa Theatre's Summer Classics List for 2023

“Back in 2017, we finished the first phase of restoration of the building and that was a $6 million phase that covered a lot of infrastructure and modernization,” said Witecki, as she walked into the historic movie palace. "So, this entire lobby was completely refurbished and restored back to its 1926 look.”

In its second phase of restoration, the theater will increase its square footage for the first time ever.

They will be using $14 million from the Tampa’s Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency and millions more through endowments.

The available space next to the theater used to be a men’s clothing store, a shoe store and a flower shop.

“But by this time next year, it is going to be Tampa Theatre’s second screening room,” said Witecki, who is vice president and director of marketing and community relations for Tampa Theatre.

She said the screening room will have 42 seats and will be connected to the theater lobby.

In the main auditorium, plaster repair is just one of the projects you can see.

“Most of this $21 million capital improvement is going to be a bunch of unsexy, ‘behind the walls’ infrastructure and modernization,” Witecki said. “Bringing a 100-year-old building into the present day so it functions like a brand new theater, but still maintains that century old look.”

Finally, they’ll use the money to renovate the third floor former office space and apartment, now used for storage.

“It’s not air conditioned, and it’s gross obviously, but for us, it represents so much potential as a new education space,” Witecki said.

She said education was what drew her to the movie palace in the first place.

“My first visit to this building was in junior high for a field trip," she said. “I fell in love, so getting to work in this building every day is kind of like getting to marry your junior high crush, and now you are part of it. It’s humbling.”

Witecki said she hopes the work they’re doing now means the theater will make it for the next generation of movie lovers.

“How do you get a better job than that?” said Witecki.

The theater is on track to be fully renovated by its 100th birthday in 2026.