Harriet Himmel Theater, West Palm Beach

The Harriet Himmel Theater is one of the landmark buildings at the center of CityPlace in West Palm Beach. Completed in 1926 as the First Methodist Church, it later became an event venue and cultural space before undergoing a major transformation in 2024. Today, the building has been adaptively reused and now operates as Eataly, a large Italian food hall that combines restaurants, specialty market areas, and a performance stage.

The exterior still reflects its original Mediterranean Revival architecture, with arched windows, stucco walls, and a prominent central tower. Though the building’s overall historic appearance has been preserved, portions of the north-side grand staircase-once a defining feature-were modified or removed during the renovation, reflecting the building’s shift toward a more open, public-facing layout.

Inside, the former sanctuary has been reconfigured into a bright, expansive food hall. The high ceilings and tall arched windows remain as architectural anchors, while the interior now features food counters, open kitchens, wine bars, and retail spaces arranged throughout the main hall. A performance stage has been incorporated into the new design, continuing the building’s tradition as a gathering space, but within a contemporary setting.

With the conversion to Eataly, the building is now accessible throughout regular business hours, allowing visitors to experience its preserved structure while enjoying modern dining and shopping options. The project marks one of the most significant adaptive reuse efforts within CityPlace, blending historic architecture with a new community purpose.