08/23/2019
Questions were recently asked about the Historic Momence Theater. Basically the status of the restoration and my plans for the venue. Ideally, I would like to see someone acquire the bar/restaurant next door from Anne and the theater as a package. Together you would have a liquor license, a kitchen and a federal brewery license. There are currently only two other breweries in the county. You would also have a potential arts & entertainment/wedding venue which could hold a theater/music event up to 300 people or a sit down dinner event of 150. You would create a destination place, a local gathering place and have one of the larger multi-use venues in the county. There was a plan commissioned by the city a few years back outlining the reopening of the theater as making a major impact on the revitalization of historic downtown Momence. A short history, the theater was built in 1924 as a vaudeville theater. The buildings next door that house the bar and restaurant were built earlier. All the buildings have maintained their historic charm. The bar/restaurant has been operational for 18 years. The theater has been under restoration since 2013. Upgrades include new ADA bathrooms and accessibility, heat, plumbing, electric and more. If someone was interested in purchasing the theater or it all as a package, I would be willing to price it, so that the person or group would still have capital left to finish the theater restoration.
