Jersey City contracted with the JCEDC to oversee work on Loew's Jersey Theatre in Journal Square, which is undergoing a $5 million renovation and restoration in cooperation with the City, the New Jersey Historic Trust and Friends of Loew's, a private community group, with additional funding provided by the state UEZ Authority. Work on the classic 1920s movie palace has been accomplished through a unique mix of professional contractors and volunteers. The theater's projection booth has been completely restored. The stage rigging has been overhauled and work has begun on reupholstering all 3,000 seats in the auditorium. The next major project will be restoring the theater's ornate exterior, including its famous clock.

The building's grand lobby was the site of a kickoff event for the theater's fund raising efforts, hosted by Nick Clooney, star of American Movie Classics, and Friends of Loew's Advisory Chairman Thomas J. Stanton, Jr.. The audience also received a videotape greeting from film critic Leonard Maltin, another Advisory board member. The Garden State Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society placed on permanent loan to the Loew's an exact duplicate of the massive pipe organ that was originally installed in the theater. The Loew's has also proved a popular location for producers of film and TV productions. When completed, the reopened Loew's will be a major arts and entertainment center in the metropolitan area featuring both live performances and classic film.

MLK Hub

• Supermarket
  
• Retail Space
  
• Post Office
  
• Firehouse
  
• Gospel Temple
  
• Virginia Gardens
  

The ground breaking for Sir Vern's CARQUEST on Martin Luther King Drive (MLK) marked the first new retail establishment on the Drive in more than 25 years. To help set up his auto parts business, owner Severn (Vern) Willis received technical assistance from the JCEDC Micro Business Assistance Center, operated in conjunction with Kean College. Willis also obtained Small Business Administration (SBA) and UEZ loans through the JCEDC, which also helped him arrange commercial bank financing through PNC Bank.

The unique Joint Venture Partnership of the JCEDC and the MLK Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC), is undertaking the redevelopment of MLK Drive with $9.8 million in federally and city-backed loans to help fund the development of the Hub Shopping Plaza. This 18-acre retail center will be anchored by a 50,000 sq. ft. Citimarkets supermarket and will feature a new post office, a new firehouse and a credit union.