New Sequoia Theater Building
Also known as: Fox Theater Building
Why it's listed
This two-story reinforced concrete building at 2211-2235 Broadway in Redwood City opened in January 1929 as the New Sequoia Theater, later known as the Fox. James and Merritt Reid of San Francisco designed it in 1928 as the centerpiece of a $300,000 mixed-use block across from the San Mateo County Courthouse. It was the first movie palace in the county built for talking pictures, with a 1,500-seat auditorium, a stage for live shows, and retail and office space. Its cast concrete facade takes the form of a Gothic tracery screen, topped by a stepped-back open steel tower that was lit at night. Alterations include a neon marquee added around 1935 and a 1950 lobby and interior remodel by Carl G. Moeller. The building is valued as the only commercial example of Late Gothic Revival architecture in Redwood City and for its high integrity. The theater closed in 1983, but the shops and offices remain in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C as a local example of Late Gothic Revival design in a commercial building of the late 1920s. It is described as the best and only remaining example of the style from that period in Redwood City. The cast concrete tracery screen and stepped-back tower reflect the romantic character of small-town movie palaces. The building also retains a high level of integrity despite changes to the marquee and lobby.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000431, listed May 5, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2211--2235 Broadway, Redwood City |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | May 5, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Reid, James William & Merritt James (architects); Pasqueletti, G.B. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th century revivals/Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The movie theater closed in 1983, while the retail space and professional offices have remained in continuous use. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.48627, -122.22955 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5477001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.