Does Lakewood Need A Movie Theater?

Nathan Kelly · Post by **Nathan Kelly** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:52 pm

I don't envy the folks that take the gamble on a theater, but I do envy the cities and neighborhoods that have taken the leap and landed well (thanks, Rhonda).

We have more than one once-great theater sites in Lakewood. There may be opportunity to leverage that nostalgia and desire for a venue in our City. If you're interested in working hard for one, I'd like to know about it.

planning AT lakewoodoh.net

In the meantime, buy Lakewood.

Ryan Salo · Post by **Ryan Salo** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:17 pm

I walked through the Hilliard Theater a while back with an investor friend of mine and his general contractor. The 2 biggest reasons we backed out were.

1. Initial invest + rehab = high 6 to 7 digits to do it right
2. No parking - walking traffic was not going to get in the amount of people needed to break even.

The investor specialized in historical grants. He does a lot of work in Lorain county and across the US.

Without the apartment unit next door being torn down and a significant amount of money in grants and city money that project doesn't look possible.

I would love to help with the Detroit theater project but I think parking there will be an issue too.

We need to devise some sort of central parking complex, maybe even two and have full time trolley's that run from Belle to River or something like that. Have the businesses contribute for a door front stop and some advertising on the vehicle. Make it electric or something and get some government money or something.

I think parking is the key to any larger project succeeding.

Ryan Salo · Post by **Ryan Salo** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:25 pm

Once the "system" is in place we can name it some sort of "Lakewood Loop" or something and maybe even get some exit signs off I-90 like Westlake and almost every other city gets.

We need signs on Bunts (gas) Warren (Taco Bell, Burger King, BP) and McKinley (bar names?

).

We have a lot to offer and some of the I-90 travelers have probably never been through on Detroit.

Just a thought that I have mentioned many times, maybe it will happen some day.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:48 pm

Tim

I thought starting software companies were like motor racing. A good way to turn a large fortune into a small one.

I have some background in this. Heating is not the problem you think if, and that is a big if, you draw patrons. In my largest club in January we would kill the heat after the 30th person walked through the door. Body heat was all we needed. That space was much larger than the Detroit, and had higher ceilings.

As for the fix-up I have to think there is some money out there.

However, I think movies may be going the way of other things.

What movies would actually draw 10,000 a week?

Well they make nice bars too.

.

chris richards · Post by **chris richards** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:21 pm

Ryan Salo wrote: I would love to help with the Detroit theater project but I think parking there will be an issue too...

I think parking is the key to any larger project succeeding.

I love the Detroit theater, to start. As for the Hilliard theater, it would be awesome if something were to happen to it. But perhaps it could be used for other purposes other than a theater, it looks like an amazing space.

Now onto why I am posting. Since this thread is about downtowns with theaters and parking issues, I wanted to highlight LaGrange, GA, which just redid their downtown square, including the building of a Movie theater. I'm not entirely sure if they renovated the old one that had been abandoned for years, or just built new, it looks very impressive. Also, the built several parking garages that did not architecturally conflict with the surrounding buildings, which actually includes the LaGrange Art Museum.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:43 pm

Mike Deneen wrote:The only hope for the Hilliard Theater is some sort of live performance, either musical or theatrical.

Mike

We were not talking about the Hillard/Westwood. We are talking of Detroit.

There is no hope for the Hillard.

The only chance is if the city took the Silver Coast through eminent domain.

Well?

.

Mike Deneen · Post by **Mike Deneen** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:57 pm

The same problems exist for the Detroit Theater, or for any independent theater anywhere in the US. It's extremely difficult to find a niche that will bring folks out of their homes on a regular basis ($5 gas won't help). As mentioned, Detroit has the parking problem, too.

I found an independent theater in Chicago that appears to be successful with a mix of arts films, foreign films, midnight shows (the obligatory RHPS) and second run matinees....but that is for a city of six million people. I'm very skeptical that there is room in the Cleveland market for something like this.

http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:04 pm

Tim, I too agree with the cleanliness issue. That is the number 1 reason we do not go there.

I love the idea of a big movie theatre - but I think the smaller ones actually may do better. I also like the idea of a specialized movie theatre more like the Cedar Lee - we drive over there quite often to see a movie. You are not competing with the Regal etc. with all the fancy features and newest releases.

I know there are immigrint communities like Indian who also will assist a movie theatre who runs for example Ballywood movies at least 1 night a week. Movies for GLBT are also popular. Foreign Films, Documentaries. I think Lakewood is a very cultural, artsy and scholarly group of citizens who would support a diverse type of movie house. Have children's movies during the day in the summer.

But I think parking is also a big problem - especially if you were drawing people from all over. That is the problem with the Hilliard Theatre as well.

Shawn Juris · Post by **Shawn Juris** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:45 am

I am all for the renovation of the Detroit Theater. Is the owner open to selling or turning over control though?
We've been there before but do end up trekking out to Crocker Park on a regular basis for the first run movies. Parking could be an issue of course for a theater. I do like the references to a shuttle. Are we back to the bar sponsored bus again to move people around Lakewood? I agree that the 2nd run industry may struggle with the speed at which DVDs are released. However, when I drove past yesterday and saw that Iron Man was coming it did catch my eye as several others have over the years. Maybe it is just the relatively short playing time that they are out that make it tough to get through that window. A well advertised Coming Soon feature in a local paper or online may fix that problem. Now if we only had access to something like that...
Clean it up and sell goobers. Not a bad plan compared to what's being done now. Anyone else picturing the classic 80's montage where the "bad" kids with good hearts fix up a delapidated building with just a broom and a bucket of paint so they can have their big show?

Dee Martinez · Post by **Dee Martinez** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:59 am

The current state of the Detroit Theater may be as good as it gets.

As Mr. Deneen pointed out, the current business model stacks the deck
against first run movies in small neighborhood theaters. Again, Lakewood is not quite as unique as we think we are. Lots of towns have second-run movie houses. Theyre all pretty much like the Detroit.

The owners could shift their focus from second-run films to art movies a la Cedar Lee, but it would be exceedingly risky. Would an independent film from Argentina really sell more tickets that "Iron Man/" (Also, when it comes to a comfortable experience, the Cedar Lee is no day at the beach, the secondary screens are like watching a movie in the back of a cargo container)

The Detroit never was, to my knowledge, a palace, unlike the restored theater in Mansfield, for example. Is there any "glory" to be "restored" there?

Finally, if were not talking first-run movies (and the Mansfield theater doesn't do that), we're talking live performances, and we already have two venues, the Beck and Civic, for those.

Sure, the Detroit could use a cleanup, but maybe its best serving its purpose the way its doing it now, a cheap entertainment option for budget-conscious families and kids. Maybe theres no need to "gentrify" it into a hi-falutin something else.

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:17 am

I've actually put a lot of thought into this type of project. However, as Ryan suggested, the start up costs are very restrictive.

I've actually got notes on a general business plan, but capital is the main issue.

Still, I would love to see someone pull it off. The movie industry is definitely changing, but a clean and classy venue for family entertainment will never be out of style. And I strongly believe that there will always be a market for such a destination.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:07 am

For years, people have talked about the restoration of the old Hilliard Square....a theatre with no parking, in need of significant structural repairs. As far as I know, the Detroit, albeit not all that clean, doesn't have the structural issues. It also has some parking....maybe not enough, but it's a decent lot.

Why not shift focus? Those interested in the Hilliard Square could move on the Detroit. It doesn't need a ton of immediate cash to keep/make it servicable. And while improvements are being made, it could remain open, generating some income. It could work.

Jeff

Ryan Salo · Post by **Ryan Salo** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:19 am

I think that if we were to change detroit theater at all I would like to see a "cry room". We have one at our church where the parents with children under 3 can go play, I have seen them with either have a glass wall to view live or a live video feed in it. The more kids we have the more I notice others with smaller children that either avoid the theater or only one of the parents go.

Not sure that has ever been done or if it would even draw a crowd but I would use it.

Also - what about a liquor license?

BTW - Does anyone know if the city has any restrictions on the addition of any more multi-floor parking garages?

Geoff Wopershall · Post by **Geoff Wopershall** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:27 am

Are there any Lakewood Community Development Organizations out there willing to take a page from the Detroit Shoreway and the Capitol Theater?

Amazing stuff they've done with funding.

Brad Hutchison · Post by **Brad Hutchison** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:37 am

Ryan Salo wrote:Also - what about a liquor license?

I was thinking that too, it depends on which way you want to go with the theater. If it's targeting the artsy/foreign crowd, a liquor license would probably be a nice selling point. But if the target is families... is there anywhere the twain can meet?

One could push a family movie night, kind of "Friday-Night-Flicks-Moved-Indoors."