The Park was built in 1940[1][2] by the architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman,[3] who designed over 300 cinemas between the 1920s and 1960s,[4] including the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver[5][6] and the Uptown in Toronto.

[9] Schein, who was by then involving himself in projects such as the Canadian Cancer Society, Friends of Larry Campbell and Doctors Without Borders,[11][12] had not been planning to get back into the movie business.

[11] However, phone calls from the building's landlord and local business owners and residents convinced him to lease the theatre and reopen it.

[11][12] Famous Players had taken everything from the building except a toilet and sink, and since Schein was left with a shell, and had to compete with other theatres, he decided to make the cinema as inviting as possible.

[11] Vancouver architect Elizabeth MacKenzie redesigned the interior of the building, and Brad Busby coordinated the construction work, which was done by sub-contractors.