Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Gem Theatre is one of the oldest single screen movietheatres in existence in the United States.
For 88 years the Gem Theatre has been the star of downtown Kannapolis. The recently completed renovations carefully took into consideration the historic original materials, design and colors of the theatre. Much needed renovations to the interior of the theatre began in December of 2023 and included the installation of new seats, refurbishing the original seats in the balcony, refinishing the stage and floors, a new screen, curtains, and projector, and repair of much of the original plaster work.