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Boyne Theater Purchased by Boyne City Main Street

Photo courtesy of Rod Cortright

Boyne City Main Street purchased the Boyne Theater on Sunday from Boyne City Taproom owner, Richard Bergman, for $350,000. 

 

Before closing in 2003, the theater was used for both movies and as a performance space, according to Boyne City Main Street Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff,

 

“The main screen is on a heightened stage," she says. "So in the past, even the Boyne City School drama productions and things like that were there.”

 

The effort to re-open the theater is expected to take 3 to 5 years and cost about $2.1 million to complete.

 

“We feel like we’re in a good position as a community organization to explore all of those options," says King-Duff. "Grants, fundraising, what the model of how it runs looks like and things like that.”

 

A community effort to purchase and reopen the theater has been in the works for nearly 10 years, however the adjacent restaurant had complicated the purchase. 

 

In 2012, Boyne City Main Street almost purchased the theater, but when the restaurant closed, the properties, including the theater and parking lot, were listed together. 

 

This time, the purchase was finalized. The City of Boyne City also helped Boyne City Main Street purchase the adjoined parking lot for $150,000.

 

Plans for the renovations aren't finalized yet, but getting the marquee lights shining was identified as a top priority. 

Kendra Carr joined IPR as the All Things Considered host in 2019. She previously worked at WMOM in Ludington as the News Director. In 2017, WMOM received the Michigan Association of Broadcasters "Station of the Year" award.