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A new hope for the 25th Street Theater?
02/13/2010 2:04 PM by John M
The long-delapidated theater on 25th Street sold twice in January, the last time on 1/7/2010 for $45,000. The city lists the current owner as “RELATED COMPANIES THE LLC AND STERLING BILDER LLC”, aka the folks behind the Sterling Row condos on 19th Street.
The company also owns the vacant lots at 412 North 33rd Street, 414 North 33rd Street, 720 Jessamine Street, and 504 North 28th Street in the immediate area. Apparently related LLCs own properties across the city, with concentrations in Carver and Jackson Ward.
I wonder how they will do nothing with the property?
Can it be a theater like the Byrd and Westhampton or can it be like the Henrico?
I would love to make that into a craft brewery. Perfect location with history to help the marketing.
This is exciting – I love that theatre.
I second the craft brewery idea!
Some sort of retail and not more condos and apts. is my vote. Brewery,theatre, or whatever would be great! But I am sure the nimby crowd that has forgotten this is a historically mixed use area is getting worked up over parking as we speak.
How bout a brewery AND a movie theater? Art house and second run films combined with local brew? Can’t think of a better way to spend the evening.
Zelig, I like how you think!
Right on Zelig.
Weird that it sold twice in just one week though.
Well, I can brew, so now we need a film/projection pro and an investor.
The fact that this sold 2 times in a week makes me think the structure needed more work than the original buyer realized. It looks like a solid structure, but the interior would need almost gutted to bring everything to code.
Might be a good place for a baseball stadium – you know, really put some money into the ha-ha “community” – if we can just get some gullible taxpayers to pay for it.
#10 Bullwinkle, The way I read the sales history, Katherine Wiley gave it to her parents Gail & Earl Johnson(simple deed transfer,no money). (Katherine posted that info here way back in another thread, so we already knew that anyway). Then this Jan., they sold it to Bank of Goochland for $40k, bank turned right around and sold it to current ‘related companies’ for $45k. Since banks don’t want to sit on properties like this, I suspect the transaction was arranged in advance.
I’m concerned that the ‘related companies’ seem to own quite a few vacant lots. Hope they don’t want this to become another in their collection…
In terms of “gutting” this thing – ain’t she already pre-gutted? I seem to recall pics of the roof missing, etc. You got your basic four exterior walls – I reackon the best thing to do is to fill it to the brim – and go for a swim.
Bullwinkle is right. There was a post a couple months ago about some “urban explorers”. It’s rough in there… nature had definitely reclaimed it a bit.
Post:
http://chpn.net/news/2010/01/07/urban-exploration-on-25th-street_11511/
Included link:
http://rvariffraff.tumblr.com/post/320366166/view-from-the-projectionists-booth-abandoned
And this is the first time in months of reading that I’ve noticed it’s “Bullwinkie”, not “Bullwinkle.”
#13 I wouldn’t be surprised if the “related companies” were related to K. Wiley and her family. Would it be possible for her to let the building be sold to The Bank of Goochland and then repurchase it under the name of a new LLC? If the “related companies” own a bunch of vacant properties I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wilieys have something to do with this building again.
Mary Anne, interesting thoughts. I guess it would be possible for the bldg. to be sold to Bank of Goochland – because, technically, at that point, she didn’t own it, her parents did.
However, are the Wiley’s involved with the Sterling Row condos on 19th St.? That’s also in John Murden’s original headline here, that the same company did those condos.
Hmmmm. . . I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wileys are somehow connected to the Sterling Row condos. ( Just a hunch of mine based on multiple stories of the Wileys and serious conartistry.) It would be great if they’d fix up the building.
Sold to the Bank of Goochland? Do banks typically get directly involved in the buying and selling of real estate? I’ve never heard of anything like this, but then I’m not involved with banking or with real estate, so it may not be unusual – any thoughts?
This happens frequently in foreclosure situations. The Bank of Goochland could have been holding a note on the property. When the bank forecloses, the property is transferred from the mortgagor( the individual) to the mortgagee (the bank)… Then, the bank transfers ownership to the ultimate buyer.
Deed of Foreclosure was filed – no receiver named. Then the property transferred to B O G for 5 grand more than the price recorded a few days later.
That’s the confusing part. That the two notes don’t match. Appears to be double recorded but with different figures, but it is hard to tell. I don’t think I have ever seen that before.
Clerk’s office would have the detailed info on the background and why it reads like that, I would think.
Shannon, did I read the city database incorrectly? I clicked on John’s link above (“sold twice in January” in the headline) and it took me directly to the city database. I clicked on ‘sales’ in that, and the way I interpreted it, the Johnsons sold to the bank for $40k, and the bank sold to the current owners for $45k.
I assumed the bank tried to get what they could for it, and the extra $5k either covered their costs or was what they could get from the new owner – perhaps the orignal deed of trust was for even more than that. I don’t see why the two sales prices, one to bank, other FROM bank to new owner, have to match. I would think the bank, assuming it’s owed more than the sale price, is trying to recoup its costs.
I didn’t see the Deed of Foreclosure – where is that on the city website? Or did you pull that info from elsewhere? I’m just curious on that one!
#22 This could have been arranged between the parties involved. Here’s a set-up as an example: Debtor decides to default on the note–let’s say for 60K. The debtor arranges to find a buyer to purchase the property at an agreed upon price– 45K. The bank agrees to write down the note to a lesser amount. It’s less of a loss for the bank than a straight up foreclosure where they not only lose the full note but then have to assume the costs of finding a buyer. The debtor could negotiate a one time payment to “settle” with the bank. However, the bank is still usually left holding the bag for a big loss. Let’s face it, that building would be a tough sell in most environments. It’s more of a liability for the bank to hold it and try to sell. It would cost almost as much to knock the shell down and clear the lot. I’ve seen these types of things happen in non-traditional finance situations.
PLEASE restore the theater! I love that building.
MaryAnn, Do you know the Wileys? Conartistry? Really? I think you’re quite off on this one. The Wileys planned to rehab this place to eventually live in & use as public space. In case you’ve missed it, the economy is a wee bit off, and certainly those in the home rehab business have suffered greatly. I bet the Wileys are sad this project did not come to fruition. I bet you don’t know anything about them & I think saying they are con artists is garbage.
Kristin, In case you missed it, the issues surrounding the East End Theater have been talked about at length since 2006. The Wileys have a reputation for taking on grand rehab projects like the East End Theater and then bailing out for one reason or another, leaving plumbers, electricians, carpenters and other vendors holding the bag. I believe they have had nothing but the best of intentions when it comes to rehabbing vacant and blighted buildings around the city and the projects they’ve completed do add value to this neighborhood. However, there have been a number of planned and unfinished rehab projects they’ve been involved with that have not panned out. This is how the Beckstoffer’s property came up for sale. If you’d like more information on the Wileys and their past business deals I can put you in touch with some of their past business partners who can speak to “conartistry” in the neighborhood. From your comment, I believe that you too know the couple and have come to their defense. It would be great if they finally rehabbed the East End Theater but that doesn’t mean everyone will welcome them to the neighborhood with open arms – good intentions or not. And yes, I’m sure they were sad about the failed project too. Even sadder were those of us who’ve had to watch it deteriorate further once demolition work started and then stopped leaving only 3 walls standing. Maybe they will return and finish what they started?
Brewery is a wonderful idea. Of course there will be the requisite protest from those who want to “protect the historic fabric” by blocking any chance of renewal Church Hill has. How can we make it happen?
Turning a building like that into a brewery would easily be a half million dollar project. $45k for the building, at least $70k in restoration and construction, $250k in brewing equipment, and the rest would be start up operational expenses. Also, I am sure there would be some fighting with the state law and neighborhood preservation society. I actually worked on writing a business plan for a start up brewery. It is costly, but the finished product pays off in many ways.
Goose Island’s original location in Chicago was once an industrial wasteland mixed with run down residential buildings. They were the first to build there, and now it is one of the top neighborhoods in Chicago. I see Church Hill in a similar light. The neighborhood is improving day by day, and the businesses that implant themselves here will eventually see the benefit of their investment. I am not pushing the point that this building needs to become a brewery, but these places need to house carefully thought out businesses.
If not a brewery or brew pub, I think other nice ideas would be:
– Independent Film Theater
– Two story restaurant and pub
– Multipurpose stage/theater (Live music, plays, and comedians ect…)
some of you can come to some crazy conclusions – I don’t think the Wiley’s have anything to do with the new owners
RE: #27: “And yes, I’m sure they were sad about the failed project too. Even sadder were those of us who’ve had to watch it deteriorate further once demolition work started and then stopped leaving only 3 walls standing.”
With all due respect, if you have never taken on a large project like this, you don’t know what it is like. Never had a project bite the dust myself, and I hope I never do. But I have seen it happen, and it is heart wrenching for folks involved.
I don’t know the Wileys, and I don’t know you, but I doubt that one can generalize and say as an observer that they were “even sadder” than the people who were forced (for whatever reason) to bail, simply because they had to look at something unfinished.
That’s just hatin.
Perhaps I was too harsh in making that statement. They have repeatedly started and abandoned rehab projects leaving vendors unpaid only to go on and reincorporate under a new LLC. I do not feel sorry for the Wileys. I feel sorry for the financial ruin of people I know who were screwed after doing business with them.
I agree Shannon. Thanks. Mary Anne, people with ‘the best of intentions’ are not generally also con artists. I still think your wording is harsh & unfair and no thanks on that offer for more information. I don’t buy that failed projects in a bad economy have anything to do with a person’s character.
$70,000 in restoration??? Are you kidding me? Have you seen that place? You could add another 0 (zero) to that number and you still wouldn’t have it. If you have a contractor who can take on that monumental task of lifting that joint from the ashes for 70K, I’d love to meet him/her. BTW, the Wiley’s have nothing to do with Sterling Bilder
#32 I don’t know you, Mary Anne, but I do know someone who got taken by the Wiley’s, and would never do business with them again. Screwed is actually the word he’s used, too, when describing what happened.
Also, the Wiley’s didn’t start this project in the current economy – if they could be said to have started it at all, which they don’t seem to have done in my opinion. I’m not sure if Shannon (#31) is referring to this but they were not forced to bail by the current economy – this place has been falling apart for years. They tried to sell it to a friend of mine for something rediculous like 1.5 million several years ago, so it’s not like they were trying to save it when they couldn’t even put a realistic price on it.
Further, Katherine Wiley wrote in to this blog awhile back announcing her intention to still do the project even after transferring title to her parents. As I recall, at the time lots of folks were suggesting what it should become, just as they are now, and she apparently read the thread and wrote to defend herself for not having done the project, but saying she still had plans for it.
Taloose #34 – I couldn’t agree more, thanks for saying it. If the market on Broad St. at 29th would have taken 1 million (and that was the lower of the two quotes to rehab according to the architectural and engineering plans that were drawn up back then – I don’t know what the current A&E plans there are), this surely would take a lot of bucks too. That’s why I’m worried that this is going to become a vacant lot. I have nothing against brew pubs, but even the developers of the Cold Storage building have shelved their plans for a brew pub there.
Bottom line, any investor that sinks $1 mil in a project…it has to have a ROI. Sorry folks, a Byrd style theater collecting $2 a head and packing the house every night of the week would still not “pay the bills”. Not gonna happen. The only thing, considering the current state of that area that would potentially pay off is housing of some sort…apts..condos.
The land is worth more than the remaining shell of that theatre. Actually, it would be more valuable as a vacant lot…it’ll cost quite a bit to knock it down and haul it away. Every square inch of the remaining structure needs serious work in order to convert it into anything useful. It would be less expensive to start from scratch and put up a new structure than to salvage that mess. That project is a catch 22 for any sort of housing that would be desirable. Rebuilding the place could turn that block around but who wants to pay $175-300K to live in a condo on that block. The rest of the block won’t come around until something happens to that building. It’s terrible any way you slice it. I feel terrible for the folks who live next door to the “theatre” in the blue house (restored by the wileys. The original buyers purchased on blind faith that theatre would be rehabbed.
Taloose, I think you nailed it in #36, I agree with you pretty much all the way, except for the fact that the only thing with ROI would be residential. I wonder if some sort of commercial something might work if built on the property, not rehabbing the theater but in place of it.
Back in the nineties, the city had a 25th St. Task Force. Friend of mine, Earnestine Clark, was involved with it for awhile. The idea was to revitalize 25th from Broad north to Nine Mile as a commercial corridor – not residential. Somehow, in the fifteen or so years since then, it seems as if they’ve moved more to residential development, I’ve seen more houses than commercial bldgs. either built or rehabbed. (I realize that the new urbanism is now the buzz word, but it wasn’t back then).
The stand out commercial stuff is CH Herbs, Pets at Play, CH Vet, and other stuff just on that block between Broad and Marshall. I’m hopeful that the news about Sunny Mkt means more commercial activity – back when my friend was involved, she did a survey of the area, and a lot of the older residents wanted walk-to things such as a dollar store (there is one now up by Nine Mile, I think) plus a hardware store and other commercial things, not restaurants but places where they could do business like laundry, buy small stuff at hardware store, stuff like that. There is a pharmacy, Edloe’s, up across from the medical center. A nice, clean laundromat wouldn’t hurt, maybe Sunny mkt will include that along with groceries…
Meanwhile, I’m afraid the theater will become a vacant lot. Shame, but that’s probably highest and best use until someone can and will build there. I for one will not be out protesting if they tear down the theater at this point.
I also agree as to feeling sorry for the owners of the blue house, which is a nice place now. Maybe if they look onto Marshall St. instead of their view onto 25th St., they have a different viewpoint.
But you know what? 25th St. is better now than it was twenty years ago, and when I worked the polls at 25th & M Sts. last November, I was amazed at the number of young couples who were either walking over to vote, or were out walking their dogs or kids or just walking. It’s progress. Maybe in 50 years I won’t be around and there will be an art movie theater / brew pub at another location on 25th St! There are other large bldgs. that would accomodate that concept at some point, and they’re on 25th St., too.
Agreed CRD…the highest and best use in the current situation is a vacant lot. It’s a terrible situation but I’m afraid your fears will come to fruition.
I live a few blocks from the Wileys and while I don’t know them that well, they have always been gracious neighbors. They have done more to improve Church Hill then most of including renovating houses and a theatre (the Robinson – http://www.robinsontheatre.org).
In my 6 years on the Hill, I’ve dreamed that the 25th St Theatre could become an arthouse or brew pub too, BUT as long as the city and NIMBYs insist on insane parking/ABC requirements, NOTHING can come of that building. Que Pasa could have been something if the parking and ABC battles had not zapped John Sanchez of resources before his opening. I imagine that Sterling, and the Wileys before, are loathe to get into it.
That said, Viva la theatre!
#35 thanks crd for validating my comments on this situation with the East End Theater. I don’t think Shannon (#31) realizes how long the East End Theater has been sitting there vacant.
I’m sad to hear that you and taloose think the best and highest use of the property is a vacant lot but the numbers do not lie. Before the Wileys tore the place completely apart I had hoped an investor with deep pockets would come along and restore the theater – I even posted it on the Cinema Treasures website: http://cinematreasures.org/search/
Mary Anne #40, that’s an interesting site!
I understand your frustration, but at this point I think the cost of putting the theater back together and rehabbing it is most likely prohibitive.
Maybe I should come up with a better phrase than highest and best use, since I don’t like vacant lots any more than anyone else. I just think that’s where it’s headed, unfortunately.
RE #40: Apparently there was prickliness caused by my comment regarding what I perceived as anonymous character assassination in #17. I am glad to see that you got to what your real beef was in #32.
Clearly length of vacancy could have been stated as a separate, valid concern. This is the first time I have heard this mentioned by you. And that really has nothing to do with me, or my awareness.
Own it, baby. Thanks.
Well, it’s going to happen. Check out http://www.richmondbizsense.com. Hooray!!!!!
Richmond Biz Sense has a piece on this today:
OMG, that’s really encouraging news!
This is fantastic news!
Wow, agreed, fantastic news!
Just read the entire piece, he’s serious! I think it’s great news and I’m glad it won’t become a vacant lot!
I wonder if enough people would venture there to be able to make this a success. This is still a front line area in the gentrification/renewal of Church Hill. Be ready for some push back.
At less than 2 blocks off of Broad, the theater is hardly in the hinterland. Perhaps your take on Church Hill is a little out of date.
… or poorly stated. Those perceptions are still widely held and represent a huge hurdle that needs addressing. I hope they are wildly successful.
Darn! Kind of hoped The King’s Retreat would end up in there!!
Hey, they used some of my ideas! I hope this happens and I will be there no matter what they make it.
remember that the city will require parking for anything that the theater will become….let the red tape rollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Whoa folks…the excitement is admirable but don’t believe everything you read. As I recall, the same enthusiasm was rolling for the famed…”Church Hill Market”…and we all know what happened there. Big dreams, big talk and a very unrealistic business plan. Thank goodness 2824 E Broad is in the hands of folks who know what to do with it and….what will work in this neighborhood at this time and place. Look, even the most modest businesses such as restaurants, etc. have failed in that neck of the woods and further north. And these places certainly didn’t lay down $800K-$1 mil in reno costs. #51 Paul is absolutely correct. In order for any venture such as those cited by Bilder would need the rest of the city to support it. The demo in Church Hill that would support this is not dense enough. And the rest of the city ain’t coming here. Accurate or not, perception IS reality. And the perception of Church Hill north of Broad is “bad news”.. I know, I know, there are folks on here that will absolutely go crazy to hear that but they’re not being truthful with themselves or realistic. Bilder already set it up stating that it would be a few years before it would take shape. He’s just a businessman taking advantage of an opportunity to grab a cheap property to hold and wait until timing is right. I still see condos coming to that loc. The businesses suggested will not pay the bills. Smack $800K in overhead on the Byrd and those doors would be closed tomorrow. Reading these comments, I suspect many have never actually run a business and just don’t get it.
taloose, what business have you run?
james, I’ve been a business owner for 26 years. I fully understand what it takes to make a payroll for 42 associates weekly.
Hello everyone. Thanks for the comments support gossip and banter that makes CHPN a great website and a beat on the pulse of the paved over hills and valleys of Richmonds east end. In all seriousness I intend to see that this place is renovated. I hope I can accomplish that. Those who know me know that Im sincere and I stand behind what I say. This is going to be a daunting task and I hope that it will ultimately be a success as my other projects have been in my short career. Im going to need all your support on this one. Im excited to be working on this project and I hope that when it does open we can all have a few cocktails and watch a couple of movies.
I was not being facetious. I was wondering what line of work.
Joshua, that sounds great and we appreciate your devotion to the project.
Home > Business> Local
Richbrau and Croaker’s Spot restaurants close.
This is the reality. If Richbrau can’t make it in a premiere Richmond location…not much more to be said.
Croaker Spot in Jackson Ward didn’t close because it wasn’t making money. It was forced to close because they weren’t paying taxes to the state: to the tune of $43K outstanding (read RTD article). Croaker Spot also just opened a new location in Manchester. That’s where the $43K went.
Richbrau served crappy food in a location that has way better around it. Something new and better will end up there.
NOB on 25th @ Marshall is a great location. Bring it on.
@62 “Croaker Spot in Jackson Ward didn’t close because it wasn’t making money. It was forced to close because they weren’t paying taxes to the state”
Hello? When a business finds itself in a position that it can’t pay taxes that usually means it wasn’t making enough money to cover expenses.
Richbrau was positioned in the heart of a destination for business travelers..the Omni and the Berkeley(among others are literally, next door). This is a natural draw for any restaurant. BTW, Richbrau didn’t remain in business for 17 years serving “crappy food”. The Richmond area is “over-stored” and more restaurants than people to patronize on a normal cycle. I personally know business owners in the Slip and they are struggling from day to day. Richbrau won’t be the last closing in that area. The recession of 2007 has changed the retail and entertainment landscape for decades to come. The losses in indiviual wealth (401K, home equity. etc.)realized throughout this recession will have long lasting implications on disposable income. It’s almost economically unfeasible for mom and pops to survive (unless you offer and outstanding product and service). In retail, it’s all about the big box and category killers–restaurants…hate to say it but the consumer is looking for the chain. (pricing, selection, quantity, convenience, and familiarity).
@ 63, helllooooo,
1. Richmond has a tradition of a few notorious restaurateurs who have INTENTIONALLY decided to pocket the sales taxes/local meals taxes paid by un-witting patrons. Patrons who are deceived into thinking the taxes added to their tab are forwarded to the local/state governments to which they are intended.
In the most notable cases the restaurants/bars have been cash cows, with owners preferring to snort the extra money or put it into fancy cars or houses…or expanding their businesses.
While using the sales taxes collected to fund a business expansion might not seem as egregious as living a high-flying lifestyle, it’s still wrong, and is basically stealing from your patrons.
2. As for the business climate in the Slip: the Urban Farmhouse just opened across the street from the closed Richbrau. You think that business’s lender isn’t paying attention to the economic climate? Some folks might think UF is pricey, but its packed during lunch with folks who feel they are getting value for their money. It offers a new product that is valued by the current population of The Slip. Times change, businesses fail even in the best economic times.
3. Have you considered that Richbrau may have simply outlived it’s product lifecycle? 17 years ago it might have been fresh and new, but their business model was improved upon by others and they were left in the dust.
4. Just because a business is in a great location, it doesn’t mean the management can sit back and do the same thing year after year. Look at the Jefferson Hotel, arguably the most valuable, stable commercial location in the city. They re-tooled Lemaire when they realized trends in dining had shifted so far that it had to change to survive.
5. Ok, 63, I agree we all are working three times as hard now as we were 2 years ago, and none of our houses can fetch the price they used to. We are all poorer.
But, people will still want to be entertained, and congregate, share a meal or drink with friends and in short “get out of the house and spend money.”
The city just forked over some big bucks to the developer of the Hippodrome in Jackson Ward…who knows, the East End might ask for the same and the theater on 25th can have a new life.
Why try to kill Bilder’s concept so early in the game?
Who’s trying to kill his concept? Sharing an INFORMED opinion is certainly far from killing his concept. It MAY spare someone a great deal of heartache and potential financial ruin. You don’t have to look too far to find folks who tried to give it a go in that area. Try these folks…Je Depuis, John Sanchez, Ted Moody, Sandra Jackson…you need some more? And, none of those folks were saddled with a $1 mil expense prior to any business consideration.
“But, people will still want to be entertained, and congregate, share a meal or drink with friends and in short “get out of the house and spend money.””
Great point…you’re correct, but there aren’t enough folks in Church Hill that have that luxury… and, the rest of the city ain’t comin’ to 25th Street. The demographics don’t lie. If you ignore them, you’re doomed to fail. There are businesses that would survive there…but it’s nothing high-end. One may be able to get away with a very small, single focus business carved out in that space with the remaining space dedicated to housing. Another convenience store, payday loan or ABC store would do great currently. How many of you want any of those? Rule #1..give em what they want…In order for transformation to take hold on 25th…there would have to be a concentrated effort from the city to aggressively $$$ fund development on a broad scale. It won’t happen one property at a time. That may be true for residential development…it doesn’t work in business. Need proof? Check out Broad St downtown. Business follows rooftops (with money to spend).
#64, do you remember any of the details about the money the city is giving the Hippodrome? I’m not being in any way snide here, am just trying to remember in an effort to perhaps help Mr. Bilder (who seems to be reading this thread at least enough to post on it). I think the Hipp. is slated to become a music venue, but that’s all I can remember at the moment. The city is either giving a grant or loan? Were there strings attached to it, or was it an out and out grant?
Please people. Who cares! If you have money- buy the theater.
If you do not, wish the new owners well and move in with life.
@65. Broad Street looks pretty good to me around Theater 4, Comfort, Lift, Belvidere & Broad (new restaurant), BHC’s new offices, Tarants, Quirk and all the various art galleries. The National & Gibsons, along with the Center Stage area are coming along nicely too?
The grungy part of Broad is SHRINKING.
Do you remember pre-First Fridays? No one I know couldn’t have envisioned the throngs of people who now parade up and down Broad–in the dark of nite, no less.
Would you have told the founder of First Fridays not to bother because people were too scared to come to Broad Street downtown? If you did, you wouldn’t have been alone.
There are lots of folks that share your thinking about Richmond neighborhoods. I simply believe you are out numbered by others who are more open minded.
Do you remember pre-Millies? Before there was any thing that far our on Main Street? Folks ventured to the fringe, and helped create an institution.
You mention Jumpin J’s and Que Pasa. Lots of folks ventured once or twice to those venues but they’re expectations weren’t met on a consistent basis. That’s why those businesses failed. NOT because of their location.
All you have to do is look at case studies like Millies and First Fridays to see that success has to do more with the quality and consistency of the product/service/experienced delivered AT the location versus the location itself.
@66, you can read the latest on the Hippodrome at http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/B4-HIPP24_20100123-184203/319671/
@65. “Broad Street looks pretty good to me around Theater 4, Comfort, Lift, Belvidere & Broad (new restaurant), BHC’s new offices, Tarants, Quirk and all the various art galleries. The National & Gibsons, along with the Center Stage area are coming along nicely too?
The grungy part of Broad is SHRINKING.”
Maybe you should raise your expectations!
I don’t think your assessment is shared by the majority in the metro. So, curious to hear how well you think Center Stage is performing??? The other places are on the fringes of the Fan (lots of money there that the Hill doesn’t have) and VCU. It’s a different mix.. You can’t compare the Fan to 25th Street in the Hill. The folks surrounding each are at polar opposites when considering demographics.
As far as Que Pasa, right from the start, you would be hard pressed to find the place even modestly full on a Saturday nite…a very bad sign. Other nites of the week, the turnout was pitiful.(same could be said for J’s) Sure, when you start giving stuff away $1 taco/burgers, you’ll get some folks. That is not a prescription for a healthy business.
Listen, I’m not trying to debate you about the business readiness in areas of the city. I’m just saying that even though $100s of millions of dollars (both tax and private) have been dumped into Broad Street in the recent past. Still everything there has met mediocre success at best (the National is the exception). The convention center is a bust, Center Stage is right behind it, the multimillion dollar reno of the Marriott along with the great looking new sportsbar (empty most of the time), Miller and Rhodes condos…the great majority of the condos are empty. Same goes for occupancy at the HGI. And the poor folks who invested alot of private $’s in blind faith are not doing so great…some that you mentioned… Gibson’s, Lift, 27, Popkin Tavern, etc. And those places have folks within walking distance that can pay for their product. Can you say the same about the Hill? Where there are a few that can..most cannot.
Unless the city gets very serious about an all out effort to redevelop 25th Street. It will languish for many years to come. To think otherwise is simply naive.
Living just around the corner from First Friday, I can tell you the throngs are the exception. Whole blocks are still boarded up and this is considered our success story. On non-First Friday weekends the galleries are lonely places.
FF expanded their venue this month to reach the Carpenter Center & the National, but it is a largely vacant 5 block walk from one to another. I hope a shuttle will be implemented to connect the two.
We HAVE made progress which we need to build on. It is going to take a dedicated push bring art buying customers in addition to art viewing strollers to downtown galleries. Right now many are still hanging on by a thread. Once a month crowds are great. I hope one day soon First Friday crowds are every every Friday night phenomenon.
See Style Weekly’s two recent articles on the Uptown and Downtown art scenes.
The Main Event
Broad Street Revivalists
Not to be negative about the Theater as a theater but how is anyone supposed to turn a profit on something that small? It would be a lot of fun but it just seems silly to pretend it could work. Commercial 1st fl, apartments above, is the typical formula. Certainly there’s something more practical that couild work there.
Forgot to mention, you need a ton of parking to have a theater, which as everyone in the city knows, is a deal-breaker as far as zoning goes.
Has anyone heard anything else lately about this project?
I noticed the empty lot next to the theatre has been cleaned up and clear. Great job + good start! Wish Joshua would update us on status of project. Has anyone heard anything on the???
Hey Josh (Bilder),
It has been a long time since you last chimed in to give us an update concerning the future of the old East End Theater. I am not sure when you made the comment that it would be at least 2 years before anything is done started when you purchased it back in January 2010 or later? It has been 2 years since then and we have seen nothing going on at the old building which remains a hollow shell.
We also know that early drawings were shot down by CHA but no one here has seen them or any revisions to know exactly what you have on the drawing table? We would be interested in knowing just how you plan to restore the facade of the theater as it looked in the 1930s while repurposing the interior space?
Throw us a bone now and then so restless people can remain informed. Thanks!
My attorney has instructed me not to post on CHPN however I will make an executive decision to give you an update. I sincerely apologize to the community for the state of the Theatre. I take partial responsibly for its condition. Within the next 60 days I will be making improvements to the facade of the building. It will be a distinct improvement. The complete design will come soon after. Despite rumors to the contrary my project was not “shot down” by anyone. All the comments and suggestions Ive received from the City, the CHA and other neighbors have been positive. Any negativity or setbacks Ive encountered have only made me more determined to finish this project. I’m the only one with intimate knowledge of this project. If anyone has any further questions they can address them to me: josh.bilder@gmail.com. Thank you for your patience and support. Sincerely,
Joshua Bilder
“Partial responsibility?” Who gets the rest of the blame here?
Josh, I for one am pleased with your current design for the facade of the old movie theater and hope the parking issue will be solved for you.