Case Study · Commercial

250 Willis Avenue, the Former Willis Theatre, Mott Haven: Every Window Replaced

More than a century of Bronx history, and a new chapter for the former Willis Theatre.

The former Willis Theatre building at 250 Willis Avenue, with its decorative pediment, arched center window and rows of new dark framed windows above the storefronts

Opened in 1923 on Willis Avenue near East 138th Street, the Willis Theatre later became known as the Casino Theatre. For generations of Mott Haven residents, it was a place to watch movies, meet friends, and make memories. The marquees are gone, but the building’s distinctive brickwork, decorative façade, and central arch remain recognizable today.

Kenemax worked with Hearth Property Management to replace every window in the building, helping prepare the space for Harlem Furniture.

The existing windows were severely deteriorated. Glass was broken or missing, components were missing, and some openings had no sashes at all. A complete replacement addressed those conditions throughout the property.

Our work spanned the long rows of grouped windows, individual openings, and the distinctive arched window at the center of the façade. The new windows bring a consistent appearance to the exterior, with dark frames that complement the brick and architectural detailing.

The photos tell the longer story: the building during its Willis and Casino Theatre years, its appearance in 2005, and the completed window replacement. Through changing businesses and uses, the same architecture continues to anchor this stretch of Willis Avenue.

For our team, it was meaningful to contribute to a building that holds so many neighborhood memories while helping prepare it for its next use.

Thank you to Hearth Property Management for the opportunity to be part of this project.

Then and Now

The building seen from the street corner in 2005, a three story brick building with a supermarket at street level
The same corner view after the window replacement, with new dark framed windows across the brick upper floors

The building in 2005, and the completed window replacement.

Archival Views

Restored archival view of the Willis Theatre corner, labeled 1930, with the theatre marquee, tall vertical signs, pedestrians and early cars
Restored archival view of the theatre building at the corner, labeled 1940, with its marquee, a tall vertical sign reading Casino, an early car and a numbered placard in the foreground

The building during its Willis and Casino Theatre years, in restored archival views.

Photos

Close view of new dark framed windows in the brick facade, with stone trim and bare tree branches in front
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Upper floors with new dark framed windows beside the decorative pediment, above a supermarket sign
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View along the long brick building from across the street, with new dark framed windows on the upper floors and parked cars at the curb
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Low angle view of the building corner with new windows on the brick upper floors above a flower shop
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Brick facade above a flower shop and a fruit shop, with rows of new dark framed windows and autumn trees
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Arched window with a black frame and a center mullion seen from inside, with a red brick apartment building and fire escapes across the street in view
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Open upper floor with exposed ceiling joists, painted brick walls and a long run of new dark framed windows
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Open upper floor with exposed wood joists, a red pipe, a black steel column and new dark framed windows along the walls
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Older photograph of the central bay of the building, with its pediment and arched window above storefronts covered in posters, and a parked sedan
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