Lighthouse Avenue is a busy, well know street in downtown Pacific Grove. The street is home to a quaint establishment known as the Lighthouse Cinema. For over 37 years, the Enea family has owned and operated the Cinema. In 1987, John and Sal Enea established the theater. When the brothers were constructing the building for use in 1988, they developed the Cinema with a faux Victorian style, to better fit into the surrounding architectural atmosphere created by the other buildings in downtown Pacific Grove. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the theater was temporarily shut down, and then eventually reopened in 2023. The theater has had various other owners besides the Enea family, but always found its way back into the hands of the original owners, until recently.
The ownership of the Theater has fluctuated over the years, but now, in this past July, PG Dentist Ayman Adeeb has gained possession of the business. On Friday, September 19, 2025 the Cinema hosted a reopening ceremony to mark the transfer of ownership. The ceremony included a mixer and cocktail hour, an official ribbon cutting, and a screening of the well known film Casablanca. Guests were encouraged to dress in a similar fashion to the clothing from the film. The ceremony received positive feedback, as locals lined up to view the new improvements. The most notable change has been the obvious color change of the outside of the building, from a creamy orange with white accents, to a sleek black finish, with golden yellow detailing. The new colors represent a new, flashy period of remodeling and revamping for the Cinema. So far, on the inside of the theater, new floors, lights, upgraded bathrooms, refurbished seats have been the physical changes. Additionally, a concession stand with drinks, food, and beer on tap have been added for patrons to enjoy. In the future, the new owner plans on adding more features to further enhance the experience. With its refreshed look and new amenities, the Lighthouse Cinema continues to be a cherished landmark in downtown Pacific Grove. While ownership may have changed, the community and nostalgia remains the same. With the changes, the theater nods to the past and demonstrates a bright sign of Pacific Grove’s ever-evolving culture.
