Our Story
In 1889, half-brothers Israel Marks and Levi Rothenberg transformed the heart of Meridian by building a grand five-story department store with a magnificent Grand Opera House attached. It was the ultimate height of luxury: guests could purchase their finest evening attire at Marks-Rothenberg and walk directly into the theater for a night of world-class entertainment.
For decades, the theater was the city's pulse, hosting everything from New York vaudeville acts and operettas to the first silent films. However, as modern movie palaces rose in popularity, the Grand Opera House went dark in 1927. While the department store thrived for years, the theater became a silent "time capsule," sitting virtually untouched for nearly eight decades.
The story found a new beginning in 2000. Through a visionary partnership between community leaders and Mississippi State University, and fueled by a $10 million anchor gift from The Riley Foundation, a $25 million restoration began. This ambitious project breathed life back into the historic walls, converting the old store into a modern conference center while meticulously polishing the Victorian gem of a theater.
Reopening in 2006, the MSU Riley Center—alongside the neighboring Deen and Rosenbaum buildings—now forms the vibrant Riley Campus of MSU-Meridian. Today, these halls are once again a cornerstone of community life, serving as the spark for the ongoing renaissance of Meridian’s historic heart.