We celebrated my grandmother's 60th birthday here, it was a great time their bouncers did a good job keeping the coffee shop goers and random party moochers out of the biz. The live band was sounding awesome, they let us serve our own cocktails which was sweeet!
Ive also been in the same venue for a few shows, the best one being Portugal, The Man. Everything sounded awesome it was capable of holding a substantial amount of people and wherever i stood i had a good view. I did almost get hit in the face when the opening band tried bieng cool and flicked a drumstick at me . .that was fun.
:)
Love this place. Love the open mics. Love the free wi-fi. Love the employees. Between 2006-2009 this was an amazing venue that booked amazing bands. This was where I saw bands like a skylit drive, dance gavin dance, saosin, this providence, a scene aesthetic, fun. The gigs have died down a bit (wish they didn't charge so much to make it more convenient for booking), but I still love the place.
Review Source:I give The Stockton Empire Theatre a four star rating as far as the hall area goes. We have DJ'd there in the past and can honestly say that they did a pretty decent job transforming the main theater room into a small yet elegant banquet hall area. This building has a whole lot of history as a movie theater. It's nice to see that it's still being put to use!
Pros: venue has dance floor lighting and screen projector
Cons: limited parking and small bathrooms
Well hmmm.. I'm going to review how this place was a theater back in the day when I went, and how it got supposedly rennovated for like temporarily (1-2 years or 3 tops), meaning upgrading the sound system and so on, until they closed the cinema part of it. AND then how it because a Java Aroma coffee shop with an outdoor area in the front.
So back in the days, the theater wasn't that bad but perhaps not as good as the newer theaters out there, in terms of sound. The seating back then was the straight flat inclined floor seating than the stadium seating (that elevates each row starting from the front) we have today.
I remembered seeing a couple of movies, and it was a good time. However parking could be limited and there is a back alley way, which really isn't safe in my opinion. Then there's parking down the street along or across the street on miracle mile, and then a couple of blocks along the streets of neighborhoods.
But I then think in 2000 or 2001 they re-done the cinema, probably just upgrading the sound to modern DTS technology.
BUT then the cinema part of it closed. There was probably too much competition and perhaps it closed maybe when the theater in downtown Stockton opened up.
However, it is now a Java Aroma coffee shop for the time being, but the cinema can be rented out. I haven't been inside really.
Before we had high speed internet installed at our house, I often come here to bum off the wifi and just surf the net. And enjoyed a cup of coffee or an iced mocha, and a treat at the same time. It ain't starbucks, but its good enough.
Sometimes you have bands that play inside the coffee shop or inside the theater area. And currently now every Thursday evening, like at 8pm there's music sharing. People play the guitar, sing, or both, or play some other instrument. Its relaxing, and I'll probably come some nights after work to just sit back and relax, drink some coffee or whatever drink, and listen.
Crowds can be different inside vs on the outside. Obviously the more calm soothing people are inside, while you have some outside as well but along the street sidewalk you may encounter a few to some immature "stupid doo doo dumb hyphy" people here and there. I know for a fact because I came thru around 11pm Thursday night, to just get a mocha and chill before heading out to the theaters to watch "Predators" at the first midnight showing.
Anyhow, nice place with a nice atmosphere, on the inside. And please, park like infront. Don't park in the back area parking lot and walk thru this alleyway as its prone to hi-jackers.... unless you have a CCW to carry a pistol, or you have a knife, or you have a japanese samurai sword, or if you are crazy with your hands to rip off throats.. then yeah go for it parking in the back..
Let's be honest here: Stockton does not exactly have a wealth of cool places to hang out. Which is why the up-and-coming Miracle Mile neighborhood feels like a breath of fresh air. If you stand on Pacific Avenue outside the Empire Theater (which is the real name of this place - not sure why you Yelpers are calling it the Stockton Royal) and squint into the bright valley light, you can almost feel like you're in a real city.
The Empire Theater itself is an old movie house turned into a live music venue. The former theater lobby is a coffeeshop that's recently changed its name from Java Aroma to Empresso, though locals just call it Empire. It's the closest thing that Stockton has to a hipster coffee house, and while you can find better ones in Sacramento or the Bay, if you're stuck in Stockton you'll be thankful for finding this place.
Decent coffee and pastries, free wi-fi, open till midnight most days. A really nice atmosphere that lets customers choose between sitting in a dimly lit renovated theater lobby, complete with paintings and pretty light fixtures, or at a table under a canopy outside.
Free wireless in a coffee shop...why can't there be more places like this in Stockton? Oh wait, now I remember, because people are afraid to leave their homes because they're paranoid of getting shot. Well, never fear, the Empire Theatre is on the Miracle Mile and this place is supposedly murder-free compared to the rest of this decrepit town. So, if you happen to find yourself on I-5 passing through town, visit the Miracle Mile, because unless you have a bullet proof vest and you know where you're going, I wouldn't recommend any place else around here. Oh, bring your laptop and look REALLY important....sometimes someone will ask you for your autograph. Yes, this town is bored like that.
Review Source:also known as the empire theater, there is tons of fun to be had at this great venue for live music (though my musician friend says he wont be back because someone stole his wallet in the alley behind the theater, but whatever. you win some, you lose some.) and private parties (the theater can be rented for events, like dances. who doesn't love dancing?)
Review Source:What a place this old site's come to be. Â The theater's been renovated to accommodate a stage, for more live performances and single-night showings of old classic films. Â Very quaint, dimly lit, relaxed aura, with a great mixed demographic (for being Stockton). Â Co-habiting with the old theatre inside now is a new "Java Roma" branch, the complimentary 'Eve' that sparked new vigor to this old charm, and gave people another reason to flow its way again. Â The baristas take the time to get to know the regulars, and good-looking little extroverts they are (some of them [the chill extrovert]). Â Very personable. Â The hot drinks are good (the mexican hot chocolate makes you wanna curl up in fetal position); however, the blended ones get too blended, and the loose-leaf teas aren't balanced to taste like their descriptions (and way too expensive for tea). Â Another down side: smokers' smoke from outside exude to the non-smoking sitting area inside. Â And for the laptop owners & non-owners: FREE INTERNET! Â Three systems set up for guests without their own mobile technology. Â And just to let you in on OUR little secret: Mondays: buy coffee, free cinnamon roll (while supplies last!)
Review Source:
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