Chatham-Kent is back operating the Capitol Theatre again but for how long is anyone’s guess.
St. Clair College, which had operated the facility since 2012, notified the municipality of its plans last October.
At that time, it cited operating losses approaching $300,000 and a $3 million reduction in overall provincial funding as reasons for the move.
The college had an option to purchase the facility which it also declined.
According to a statement released by the municipality, it is in the process of seeking another operator.
“There have been several interested parties and the next step is for administration to undertake a “Request for Proposal” process to learn further details on the submissions.”
Municipal staff have been researching operations of the 1,200 seat facility to better evaluate potential operators.
“The College has been an excellent partner and we expect a seamless transition as the municipality assumes the operations of the Capitol Theatre,” said the municipality’s Director of Community Services, Evelyn Bish.
“We thank St. Clair College for its investment in, and contributions to, the theatre over these past years. The Capitol Theatre plays a vital role in the community’s Tourism Destination Management Plan and has helped boost Chatham-Kent’s economy and tourism, attracting residents and newcomers to the downtown core through its shows and programs.”
Bob Crawford, Chatham-Kent Community Development General Manager, said last autumn that the facility must remain operational as a theatre until 2027 or it will be forced to return some of the senior government funding that was received for renovating the building.
The theatre has been a controversial project since the building was saved from the wreckers’ ball in the mid 1990s.
Chatham Capitol Theatre Coalition was registered as a charitable group in August 1996 and set about renovations.
After some $20 million in renovation funding, the theatre opened in September of 2010.
It was operated by the non-profit Capitol Theatre Association for less than a year before that group went bankrupt in 2011. The College assumed management the following year.
Chatham-Kent’s portion of the $20 million cost of the theatre was $5.4 million, of which $1 million was paid off between 2000 and 2003.
Let the dead horse die. We keep spending money on this white elephant. Now they are showing movies and under cutting the price of the Cinema theatre on St Clair street The Cinemsa is a tax payer in C-K so dont upset them either.
when will the people of C-K stand up and stop this, You can, Yes we can, do not wait for Spring do it now!
Hire a demolition company and flatten the peice of junk. Boom , problem solved.