If you walk down State Street in Montpelier, you might miss it. Honestly, it doesn't scream for attention like some neon-soaked multiplex in a suburban mall. But the Capitol Showplace Montpelier VT—or as most locals simply call it, the Capitol Theatre—is basically the heartbeat of downtown.
People think a movie theater is just a place to buy overpriced popcorn and sit in the dark. In Montpelier, that’s just not true. This building has survived fires, devastating floods, and a global pandemic that nearly wiped out independent cinema. It's still here.
The Resilience of Capitol Showplace Montpelier VT
Let’s talk about the water. In July 2023, the Winooski River decided it didn't want to stay in its banks. It tore through the streets, turning downtown into a muddy lake. For the Bashara family, who has owned the theater for generations, this was a "here we go again" moment. They’d already been through the Great Flood of 1992.
But 2023 was different. It was brutal.
The water ruined everything. The seats? Gone. The carpets? Soaked in toxic sludge. The digital projectors that cost more than a mid-sized sedan? Threatened. Most business owners would have looked at the mud-caked lobby and just handed the keys to the insurance company. But that’s not how it works here.
Cyndy Bashara Golonka, the current owner, didn't just stand there. She and her family, along with a small army of about twenty-five community members, started hauling out 500 ruined seats. You’ve probably seen the photos—red upholstery piled up on the sidewalk like a graveyard of Friday nights.
A Century of Movie Magic
The history is kinda wild if you dig into it. Before it was the Capitol, it was called the Playhouse back in the late 1920s. It was the "pride of downtown" until a fire gutted it. In 1939, they rebuilt it using the original walls, and that’s when the Capitol Showplace Montpelier VT name really started to take root in the local consciousness.
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It hasn't always been five screens. It started as a massive single-screen palace with a sweeping balcony. Later, Fred and Mary Bashara converted it into a multiplex to keep up with the times. They kept the soul, though. They saved the old film reels, which now hang on the walls as décor. They preserved the wainscoting. It feels like a theater, not a sterile box.
Why This Place Beats Your Living Room
You’ve got Netflix. You’ve got a 65-inch 4K TV. Why bother going out?
Because you can’t get a local IPA at home while sitting in a room full of your neighbors. One of the coolest things about the renovated Capitol is that they leaned into the Vermont vibe. They serve local brews. You can grab a Sip of Sunshine IPA from Lawson’s Finest Liquids or a canned Gin & Tonic while you wait for the trailers to start.
The sound is different too. There’s something about the acoustics of a 1930s building retrofitted with modern digital sound that just hits harder.
- The Vibe: It's cozy. Red, navy, and purple tones.
- The Crowd: A mix of state legislators, college kids, and families.
- The Snacks: Real butter. It matters.
Honestly, the "Showplace" part of the name isn't just marketing fluff. It refers to the company, FGB Theaters, which also runs the Paramount Twin in Barre. But in Montpelier, it's a social hub. You go there to see people as much as you go to see the movie.
What Most People Get Wrong About Independent Theaters
There’s this myth that small-town theaters only show artsy documentaries or movies that came out three months ago. Total nonsense. The Capitol Showplace Montpelier VT pulls in the big blockbusters the same day they hit New York or LA.
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Whether it's the latest Wicked adaptation or a gritty Edgar Wright thriller like The Running Man, they get the prints. They balance it out with special events and the occasional indie flick, but don't think for a second you're missing out on the "big" cinema experience by going local.
The real challenge isn't the content; it's the cost of keeping the lights on. Between energy prices in Vermont and the cut that Hollywood studios take, the margins are razor-thin. When you buy a ticket here, you aren't just paying for a movie. You’re paying to make sure State Street doesn't have another empty, boarded-up storefront.
The 2026 Experience
Coming into 2026, the theater has fully moved past the "recovery" phase. It’s now about evolution. The downtown area is still feeling the ripples of the 2023 flood—some shops never came back—but the Capitol acts as an anchor.
If the theater is full, the restaurants nearby like Pho Capital or the North Branch Café stay busy. It’s an ecosystem.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip to the smallest state capital in the U.S., don't just look at the Golden Dome of the State House. Walk the extra block.
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- Check the Schedule Early: Their website (fgbtheaters.com) is the most reliable spot. Don't trust third-party aggregators that might have old data.
- Arrive 20 Minutes Early: Not for the seats—those are assigned or plentiful—but to check out the renovated lobby. The way they integrated the old film reels and the original colors is actually pretty impressive.
- Support the Concessions: This is where the theater actually makes its money. Skip the dinner before and grab some popcorn and a local Vermont cider.
- Parking Hack: State Street can be a nightmare during the day when the legislature is in session. If you’re catching a matinee, look for parking behind the Christ Episcopal Church or use the pit parking lot a few blocks away. It’s a short, beautiful walk.
The Capitol Showplace isn't a museum. It’s a living, breathing part of Montpelier that refuses to quit. It’s survived more than its fair share of "once-in-a-century" disasters, and it’s still the best place in Washington County to lose yourself in a story for two hours.