NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) -
Like
so many theatres of its time, the old Main Theatre in Nacogdoches was close to
seeing a wrecking ball. Thanks to a nostalgic investor "The Main" will premier
its make over to the public in about one month.
East
Texas News got a sneak preview of the project.
For
two years, developer Bill Bryant longed for the Main Theatre in Nacogdoches.
"I went to
this place as a kid," Bryant said. "I came here practically every Saturday
morning."
Multiplexes
left the Main Theatre behind like a silent film star. Bryant came to its
rescue.
"I
picked up a big snake when I did it," Bryant said. "Building was in worse shape
than I thought it was. The first day I came in here, there was three foot of
water in here with mosquitoes."
In
just over one year, Bryant is close to opening the Main Street Apartments. In
all, it will boast ten loft apartments.
"We
put a lot of extra stuff into this," Bryant said.
The
one- and two-bedroom apartments have all the amenities of home, along with subtle
reminders of once upon a time. Pointing something out in one of the apartments,
Bryant said, "This is part of the original steel structure of the building. The
original walls is the old theatre, which I think makes it that much better."
Bryant said
he absolutely can't wait to start phase two - the renovation of the Main
Theatre. He said with a project like this one just has to have a lot of
imagination.
"You
got to see it!" Bryant said.
The
vision is a lobby restored to how it was when 25 cents got Bryant a movie and
popcorn.
"The
popcorn machine used to be right here" Bryant said. "There used to be a counter
right here."
Upstairs
was the balcony, which was located right under the projection room. During
segregation, blacks were made to sit there. Bryant calls them the best seats in
the house, which leads to wonder about the coming attraction.
"Not
for sure yet," Bryant said. "It could be a wine bar with a mini theatre
upstairs. It will have to be something that if you're downtown, you want to
come by."
Make
sure you swing by at night.
"All
the neon and all will be just like it was originally back in the 40's and 50's,"
Bryant said.
The
investment is sparing another bit of small town life from a wrecking ball. Now
a new generation anxiously waits for opening night.
Bill
Bryant said that he wants to have the Main Street Apartments ready for view by
April 1. He added that he'll take about a month off and then get started on the
lobby renovation.
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