In an editorial, Jersey City resident Danielle D’Adamo give her take on the renovations of the historic Loew’s Theatre in Journal Square.
I still remember the thrill of walking into the Loew’s Jersey Theater as a child. The towering ceilings, the velvet curtains, the glowing marquee — it all felt magical.
My family would pile into the theater for a movie night, and for a few hours, we were transported into another world.
But what made those nights truly special wasn’t just the films on the screen — it was the feeling of being together, in a space that belonged to all of us.
That’s why the recent removal of the Loew’s marquee has felt like a gut punch. Not just for me, but for many in Jersey City who grew up with the Loew’s as a cultural and communal cornerstone.
More than just a historic structure, the Loew’s is a place where generations of families made memories, where local groups fought tirelessly to protect and preserve its legacy, and where the story of our city quite literally lives on its walls.
Yet despite decades of advocacy by residents and organizations like Friends of the Loew’s and the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, critical decisions about the theater’s future — including the removal of its iconic marquee — have been made behind closed doors, without clear communication or input from the very people who saved it from the wrecking ball.
That’s not preservation. That’s erasure.
When government funds — whether public dollars or through public-private partnerships — are invested in restoring community landmarks, transparency should be a baseline expectation, not an afterthought.
The public deserves regular updates, accessible forums for input, and genuine collaboration with those who know the history, care for it, and have defended it.
Too often, top-down decisions sideline grassroots voices, especially when development interests take the wheel. But history shows that it’s the residents — not the developers — who fight the long fights.
It’s community groups that volunteer their weekends, raise awareness, and hold rallies to protect the soul of our city.
Preservation should not be treated as a branding tool or a tourism strategy. It should reflect the values and stories of those who live here — those who remember what the Loew’s once was and dream of what it could be again.
Restoring the Loew’s isn’t just about bricks and plaster. It’s about honoring the people who’ve made this city what it is.
It’s about families like mine, who created lifelong memories under its golden ceiling. It’s about a city choosing to preserve not just its architecture, but its identity.
The Loew’s was built for the people of Jersey City. It should be restored with the people of Jersey City — not without them.
Danielle D’Adamo is a lifelong Jersey City resident, a dedicated advocate for community issues, and an educator with a background in political science and education. As a kindergarten teacher, she is passionate about fostering safe, equitable spaces for all residents.
Danielle is also deeply engaged in local activism, focusing on sustainability, urban planning, and the arts. She is particularly committed to rebuilding and preserving Jersey City’s tree canopy, working to enhance green spaces and environmental resilience for future generations.
There was absolutely no plan to tear down the Loew’s Theater. This was all made up by a bunch of fools. This was given to the city by Bob Tisch, who later bought the New York Football Giants. I was the Mayor when this was done.
it was decided to return the building to its original look on the outside that means bringing back the original looking marquee
Just because the writer of this letter recalls the current marquee doesn’t mean that’s the one that is the want to preserve
The marquee that’s just been removed was put up 20 years after the original marquee
If she really cares about preservation, she should be more concerned that they are ripping out the angled seating plan inside