This building at 102 S. Ninth Street is built with a limestone facade, red brick sidewalls. It was built in 1916 by Tom C. Hall and initially played vaudeville and movies. Live performances were phased out over time. The Hall showed its last movie between 1971 and 1986.
Vacant for years, it housed the St. Louis Bread Co./Panera Bread restaurant from 2005-2013. As of 2020, it is once again vacant and available for lease.
“This classic ‘movie palace’ is one of the largest intact styled buildings in the district,” per the Downtown Columbia Historic District NRHP form, http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/06000990.pdf.
Media Reports on the Hall Theatre:
- June 29, 2017 — Columbia, Missouri: A lesson in art history, Vox magazine of the Columbia Missourian. Summary: A collection of five articles about theatres in Columbia, includes timelines for several theaters. Those covered include the Missouri Theatre, the Maplewood Barn Theatre, the Hall Theatre, Rynsburger, Jesse Auditorium.
- Aug. 28-29, 2016 — A somber centennial. Columbia Missourian. Reviews the history of the Hall Theatre, built in 1916, now vacant and owned by Stan Kroenke’s company, TKG Hall Theatre.
- Sept. 19, 2013 — The downtown Panera Bread location will close at the end of 2013. The restaurant, Panera Bread, is the historic Hall Theatre at 102 S. Ninth St., will close at the end of 2013.