Studio Theater

By 1946, Leonard Starks was well known for his theater design. Due to his notoriety, he was hired by Leonard Giordano to design the Studio Theater on K Street. The Studio Theater is significant as a post World War II addition to the Moderne-styled amusement facilities that sprang up in 1930s-1940s in downtown Sacramento. The building is one of the very few remaining examples of the pre-1950s commercial architecture that once dominated the streetscape of K Street’s 1200 block.

According to Starks project list, it appears that this same year he was rehired to design apartment houses for Mr. Giordano, but those have yet to be identified.

The venue changed names to The Capri in 1958 and the Encore in 1961. In 1975, it became a restaurant and eventually the Metro Bar and Grill. More name changes and remodels continued which is now known as the Esquire Bar and Grill.