The 3Below cinema, cafe and theater venue in Downtown San Jose will close later this month, owners Shannon and Scott Guggenheim announced today.
The couple, who previously operated Saratoga’s Retrodome Theater, transformed the former Camera 3 Cinemas at Second and San Carlos streets in San Jose into a home for musicals and live events in 2017.
Like many performance spaces, 3Below was hit hard by the pandemic. The disruption stalled its momentum, and the business struggled to regain its footing despite an inventive slate of original and licensed productions and adding cinema to the mix.
Their statement follows:
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the closure of 3Below Theaters following the final performances of “The Bardy Bunch” in April 2026.
“This is not a decision we ever wanted to make. Although we’ve been producing entertainment experiences throughout California since 1987, we were just getting going in downtown San Jose. In our lovingly-renovated theater, we successfully developed an incredible slate of programs where artists, audiences, students, and community organizations could come together to experience stories through live theater, independent film, and community conversations. After being one of the few arts organizations that “survived” the pandemic, we looked forward to continuing to build upon our family’s legacy of providing our community with meaningful and entertaining experiences for years to come.
“Instead, after nearly a decade of doing all we could to breathe life into the little theater on the corner of 2nd and San Carlos, we are making the painful decision to end programming at this venue. We have explored every possible way to persevere, but a combination of immense challenges and unresolved issues related to the facility ultimately make it impossible to continue.
“As we look back at the eight years we produced events at 3Below, we remember with fondness the hundreds of performers, filmmakers, educators, and local organizations that shared their work on our stages and screens. Tens of thousands of people gathered here to laugh, learn, debate, celebrate, sing along, and experience stories together. We are deeply grateful to the audiences who filled our theaters, the artists who trusted us with their work, the students who learned with us, and the many neighbors, community partners, and benefactors who believed in what this space could be.
“Our final film event took place on Sunday, March 8, with the Oscar-nominated short films. Our final production will be the presentation of the musical “The Bardy Bunch”, opening March 28 and running through April 26.
“In the coming weeks we hope the community will join us to celebrate everything that was created here. If 3Below has meant something to you, we invite you to join us during these final weeks: attend a performance, share your favorite 3Below memories, and help celebrate the artists, stories, and community that made this theater special.
“While this chapter may be coming to a close, the spirit of creativity, curiosity, and community that filled this theater will continue to shape the cultural life of San José. The story of 3Below ultimately belongs to everyone who walked through its doors, and that story will continue wherever those people carry it next.”
Quote: “Like many performance spaces, 3Below was hit hard by the pandemic”.
No, not the “pandemic”, the Covid tyranny from government officials locking down society in violation of our basic human rights because of mass hysteria over a strain of the flu, and the cowardice of this local arts organization, like others, in the face of the tyranny.
I recall attending a film on the roof of the garage structure where patrons were seated masked in roped off pods away from each other, outdoors, to see a film. An abject disgraceful act by the theater of unscientific, craven subservience to tyrannical edicts from our moronic local officials.
Not a peep of public protest from this theater. Good riddance.
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You obviously have a disputed view of Covid reality not based on the opinions of Healthcare Professionals who wear masks daily. I applaud this theatre company for thinking creatively to respond to public health concerns. I enjoyed a delightful production of Xanadu the Musical on the roof – twice. One detail you might not know or comprehend, but this family has a severely handicapped daughter who is immunocompromised and that their precautions were really a matter of life and death in protecting her. You didn’t have to attend or buy a ticket. Your political positioning is not based on fact, medical advice or the Covid reality on the ground during that time. Applauding ANY theatre’s demise, OR the valiant efforts of this company and family to continue operating during a horrific pandemic is shameful. The City’s negligence in contributing to the failure of this wonderful arts organization and downtown destination should be investigated and the wrongdoing punished. The building has NOT been well managed or cared for properly and, having worked there, dealt with parking machine problems, poor security, broken elevators and AC, vandalism, and filthy sidewalks, I can attest that this City owned parking garage was not cared for professionally. The theatre had a constant uphill battle to make their patrons and employees feel safe, secure and healthy in such a dirty, old, parking structure with 3 very nice theatres underneath. Kudos for the Guggenheims for creating a truly magical space inside while dealing with FAILED City Management. Like Great America and the demise of the beloved California Theatre Center in Sunnyvale, local cities are basically indifferent towards the plight of ever struggling Arts companies which require ACTIVE government support and subsidies to SURVIVE. The City of Santa Clara’s disgraceful sale of Great America, against Voters wishes – voters saved the theme park from demolition one already – is yet another example of Silicon Valley’s endemic shortsighted attraction to quick profit, rather than a TRUE investigation and investment in those amusements and venues that ENRICH the public good. We should Demand Better!