In 1907, the Warner Brothers opened their first silent film theater in downtown New Castle , Pennsylvania .

Nearly 100 years later a joint venture was formed between the developers of Cascade Riverplex, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of New Castle to adapt five buildings into a regional destination theme-oriented marketplace.

While maintaining structural architectural integrity of the Warner Brothers First Theatre, the developers have invested over $10 million to create a dynamic entertainment facility for the 21st century. With sixty thousand square feet of entertainment, retail, and eateries, the Cascade Center , phase one, includes:

• Re-Creation of the Warner Brothers First Theatre
• Mill Street Grille - casual dining, superior wines and a view of The Riverwalk-NOW OPEN!
• Stage 3 At The Warner Theatres
• The Basin - blues and jazz at its best

An additional 12 million dollars has been invested by the city and state for street front renovations, parks, lighting and parking facilities. Both Governors Ed Rendell and Tom Ridge have stated this project is a model for cities throughout the Commonwealth.

The joint venture keeps growing with the addition of two parks and an amphitheatre planned for completion in the year 2006. Combined with The Riverwalk, the turn-of-the-century streetscape theme and annual events such as "The Fireworks Festival", "Back to the Fifties" weekend, and "The Balloon Quest" enhance the 26,000 vehicles-per-day count that the intersection of Mill Street offers. The customer base draws from a regional population of four million within one hour of downtown New Castle and up to 20 million within four hours of the city. In addition, seven other buildings in the downtown area are currently undergoing renovation by local businesses adding to the market draw of the area.

Lawrence County is one of the most centrally located counties in the tri-state area and has a very pro-active tourism promotion agency. Interstate 79, plus Routes 60, 224 and 422 provide easy access to Lawrence County and surrounding areas offering tourists many attractions - McConnell's Mills State Park - used in TV and Film; Moraine State Park - fishing, boating, and camping; the quaint, country shops of Volant Village; New Wilmington - picturesque and home of Westminster College ; and, the unique attraction of the Amish countryside. Slippery Rock University , Grove City College , Geneva College and two Penn State branches are just a stone's throw away from the heart of downtown New Castle .

Another historical structure adjacent to The Riverwalk is a potential site for one of the future phases of the Riverplex marketplace. This location could include a children's entertainment center where the goal is to create an amusement attraction built around physical activities and educational programs for children.

The Cascade Center at the Riverplex is being developed by Cascade Development Corporation/Cascade Riverplex, L.P. and managed by Cedar Tree Companies. The developers are offering a variety of options for a business locating to this exciting venue.