The Parkway Theater

Category: Art Houses

In the summer of 2007 it seemed that The Parkway Theater, nestled in a quiet south Minneapolis neighborhood was going to close it doors. Bill Irving had been a usher in the theater going back to the early 1970s when it had been run as a skin-flick house under porn king Ferris Alexander.

Much to the delight of is Chicago Avenue neighbors, Irving rescued the house and made it a venue for sleepy art house and indie films. Working, seemingly 8 day weeks, running the popcorn concession, acting as chief projectionist and booking the films, Irving had burnt out. The end was near.

Enter stage left, beloved local theater and film actor, playwright, and successful restauranteur Joe Minjares, whose favored Pepitos happened to be located in the same block. Since the fall of 2007, Minjares has reinvigorated the Parkway, booking films, live music and stage acts (such as comic Lizz Winstead) and has built up a neighborhood institution whose era seemed to have passed. And Minjares, with one foot in the business world and the other on the stage and in films is perfect for the task at hand.

With Pepitos and Turtle Bread Company as neighbors (as well as other down in the community local businesses) surrounding the Parkway, it has become a destination art visit for food and film lovers throughout the Twin Cities. Every great city needs a Parkway film and entertainment venue or three or
four.