Mitch Glaeser of Gainesville, FL, who is currently refurbishing the Stephenson Hotel, has announced the purchase of the old Rivoli Theater building just north of the hotel.  The purchase by the Glaeser family was finalized earlier this week after negotiations with former owner Danny Lundy.  Glaeser said immediate repairs will be made to stop any further damage to the building.  The property also includes the office just south of the theater that formerly housed Jenkins Financial Services.

Originally, Glaeser and family had been looking at the property as an area that could provide additional parking space for hotel visitors.  But after examining the building they are now examining options that could bring back a movie theater (as well as live theater venue) to Falls City.  Glaeser said his brother, Christopher, is conducting the research into possibly restoring the theater building.  Questions that need to be answered include the viability of restoration from a financial standpoint, as well as the level of public support a movie theater might have in Falls City.

Glaeser said the fact that the theater building is contiguous to the hotel location makes it a natural.  “It fits well into all the different things happening at the hotel and in downtown Falls City,” he said.  An initial concept would be to offer first-run movies on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and to book older releases for young people during the summer months.  Summer passes would be available.  The possibility of including an arcade and/or party room also exists.  Another idea, Glaeser said, would be to partner with local restaurants on “dinner and a movie” nights, with movie tickets offered at a reduced rate.

“A lot of creative juices are flowing,” Said Glaeser, regarding cooperation with other Falls City businesses that might benefit from a movie/theater and/or the hotel refurbishment.  “We would like to see others be inspired to open new businesses in Falls City,” Glaeser said.  “People are exploring other business ideas,” he said.  “The excitement is real and it is happening.”

Not all the plans for the hotel have been announced.  But work is already underway on the Lydia Bruun Woods Library building, the soon-to-be new home of Falls City Pharmacy (currently located in the hotel).  “We need to pull together to determine what kind of a community we’re going to be,” Glaeser said.  “It’s for us to choose.”

Glaeser said he believes a movie/live theater would provide an important social and family oriented outlet for the community-a place where people could interact and socialize.  “We’re hopeful we can generate community support and get this theater open,” he said.  But Glaeser stressed that opening a theater is not a done deal.  “We’re inspired to do it,” he said, “but have to get our hands around a plan and renovation and operational costs.”

Source:  Falls City Journal, March 14, 2008