The 1936 historic Del Mar Theater, located at 1124 Pacific Garden Mall, Santa Cruz, California, was completed in February, 2002. The project was a result of a public private partnership between the Redevelopment Agency of Santa Cruz, a private developer, Swenson/OW Del mar Joint Venture, and the operator, Nickelodeon Theaters.

The project scope included upgrading fire and life safety systems, installing a new three-stop hydraulic elevator to access the upper theaters and mezzanine, concessions stand, new ticket booth, and storefront entrance, remodeling existing restrooms to conform with current accessibility standards, upgrading the existing HVAC system, installing new seating, and restoring the marquee.

The theater was awarded Preservation Design Awards by the Art Deco Society of California, the California Preservation Foundation and the California Governor's Award. In addition to commercial cinema use, the theater is available to non-profit community groups for film festival exhibition.