The campaign is raising $4,000,000 to restore the historic Paula Theater in downtown Mt. Pleasant, NC, and transform it into the Avett Theater — a significant new arts and entertainment venue for Mt. Pleasant, Cabarrus County, Stanly County, and the broader region.

The Paula Theater opened on February 6, 1948, in the heart of Mt. Pleasant, NC, and was hailed as one of the finest small-town cinemas in North Carolina at the time. The building was more than a movie house — it included offices and two storefronts, anchoring a bustling corner of Main Street. Next door, a grill served dinner before the show, offering a “dinner and a movie” experience decades before it became trendy. Longtime residents still remember delivering flyers for upcoming films and watching the town come alive under the glow of the marquee.

Ownership changed hands several times over the years, but the Paula remained a beloved fixture until it closed in the mid-1950s. Since then, it has stood as a quiet reminder of Mt. Pleasant’s vibrant past.

The Avetts have called Mt. Pleasant, NC, home since 1947. From Reverend Clegg and Martha to Jim, Susie, Bonnie, Scott, and Seth, their story is woven into the fabric of the community. Scott and Seth Avett, founders of The Avett Brothers, have brought Mt. Pleasant into the national spotlight through their music and storytelling.

The Avett name carries cultural weight and regional and national magnetism. Naming the theater after them instantly elevates its visibility, attracting musicians, fans, tourists, and arts patrons from across North Carolina and beyond. It becomes a destination—not just a venue.

The campaign is for residents, donors, businesses, arts patrons, and community partners across the region — anyone who believes in the power of a restored, active Avett Theater to serve as a lasting cultural and economic asset.

The campaign begins in August, 2026. A construction timeline and opening date have not yet been finalized and will be announced as the campaign progresses.

The Avett Theater occupies the historic Paula Theater building in downtown Mt. Pleasant, NC, on Main Street.

While the theater is located in Mt. Pleasant, it is designed to serve communities throughout the region:

• Cabarrus County, Stanly County, and Rowan County: strengthening local arts programming and community engagement.
• The Charlotte Metro Area: providing a mid-sized venue alternative for touring national and regional artists and cultural events.
• Concord, Kannapolis, Albemarle, and Salisbury: expanding the footprint of live entertainment and creative collaboration.
• Union County and Davidson County: connecting rural and urban communities through the arts.

The Avett Theater fills a geographic void for mid-sized entertainment venues bounded by Charlotte to the west, Elkin and Winston-Salem to the north, the Research Triangle to the east, and Monroe to the south — making it a true regional hub, not just a local landmark.

Featuring regional musicians, playwrights, filmmakers, and performers, the Avett Theater ensures local talent has a professional stage. The theater plans to attract national and regional touring artists, offering them a high-quality venue while keeping live performances accessible to local and regional audiences.

Beyond the arts, this theater will be a space for hosting town meetings, festivals, author events, school performances, corporate gatherings, weddings, and celebrations. It will be flexible enough to accommodate both large audiences and smaller, more intimate events.

In 2024/2025, there were 2.6 million visits to downtown Mt. Pleasant, with 327,000 out-of-market visitors. In addition, 31% of visitors were not local but were within 50 miles, including Stanly & Rowan Counties and the Charlotte area. The proximity to the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Mills, and hotel accommodations makes Mt. Pleasant an additional draw to the area.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) Report, conducted by Americans for the Arts in partnership with Arts North Carolina, found that North Carolina’s nonprofit arts and culture sector attendees spent an average of $39.10 beyond admission, with one in three traveling from outside the host county and 67% citing the arts event as their primary reason for visiting.

The building has sat quiet since the mid-1950s, but downtown Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding region are poised for renewed growth. Restoring the Avett Theater now secures a piece of the community’s history before it is lost, while creating a modern, mid-sized venue that currently doesn’t exist anywhere in the region between Charlotte, Winston-Salem, the Triangle, and Monroe.

Even a modest event schedule at the Avett Theater could generate thousands of additional visitors to Cabarrus County. The theater will become a regional magnet, boosting tourism, adding event-focused jobs, and supporting nearby businesses. It positions Cabarrus County as a cultural anchor in the region—attracting artists, entrepreneurs, and visitors.

Support for the Avett Theater will be allocated across the following areas:

• $2,700,000 for historic restoration and renovations (structural repairs, new electrical and mechanical infrastructure, a three-story backstage addition, accessibility improvements, including an elevator, and exterior and interior finishings.
• $1,100,000 for sound, lighting, staging, marquee, furniture, and fixtures
• $200,000 for operational support for the first three years (maintenance, utilities, initial artistic projects, marketing)

The 13,000 sq ft theater, when complete, will feature a flexible tiered main floor capable of concert seating for 634, mixed cabaret seating for 300, or banquet seating for 264.

• With a capacity of 634 seats, the Avett Theater will fill a gap in the regional venue landscape, serving as an ideal space for performances that are too large for small community theaters yet too intimate for major city venues.
• A 2000 sq ft balcony that can accommodate 100 and features its own bar and service area is ideal for VIP events or receptions. A side private entrance with an elevator adds to its usefulness and flexibility.
• A planned pocket park and walkway next to the theater, leading from the ample parking in the rear of the building, provides additional pre- and post-concert gathering space. The area complements the downtown square, which has eight restaurants in addition to shops, all within a block.