CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Tivoli Theatre, the downtown Chattanooga landmark nicknamed the Jewel of the South, opened its doors Tuesday, Oct. 20, for the first time since 2022, ending a four-year, $75 million restoration and expansion.
Bluegrass star Billy Strings christened the renovated hall with the first of two sold-out concerts, and the second is set for Wednesday night. Fans without tickets were not left out: a free two-night street party, set up on the stretch of Broad Street from Seventh to Eighth, carries the performances live on big outdoor screens.
Planning for the work started in 2018. Before the theater closed, its ceiling was chipping and paint was flaking off the walls. Crews brought back the ornate plaster, gold leaf and original painted patterns, while the building also gained roomier seats, more restrooms, platforms for wheelchair users, and new heating, electrical, plumbing and sound and video systems.
The final bill came in $15 million above the first estimate after delays and rising prices. Nick Wilkinson, who leads the Tivoli Theatre Foundation, said a project of this size takes time and care, and that the aim is a venue that is both beautiful and able to pay its own way. While the Tivoli was dark, touring concerts and Broadway shows moved to Memorial Auditorium.
The theater dates to 1921, and the city bought it in the 1960s after residents rallied to save it. Local arts groups, including the Chattanooga Symphony and Ballet, will again call it home. Construction on the larger Tivoli Performing Arts Center complex around it will continue into 2027.
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