MOVIE TIME: Fulton Economic Development Corp. Director Terry Lee talks to about 60 people who gathered Wednesday at the Fulton County Public Library to discuss the future of Rochester Times Theater. Staff photo by Wesley Dehne
More than two years since its closing, an interested group of people met Wednesday to discuss the potential restoration and reopening of Rochester Times Theater.
Fulton Economic Development Corp. Director Terry Lee, who organized the meeting, said he was surprised and excited by the turnout.
About 60 people attended the 6 p.m. meeting at the Fulton County Public Library to hear and comment on potential plans. They were of all ages and different backgrounds.
One person, Bettina Zabel, said she is not a Rochester native, but with children ages 7, 6 and 5 she’d like to see a family-friendly movie theater here. She noted the downtown doesn’t bustle as it did when she moved here eight years ago.
In an effort to try to resurrect the movie house, which closed two years ago, Lee sought to establish a group designed to oversee fixing up and reopening the theater – referring to it as his “Trusted 20.” More than 20 came forward to sign, saying they would help see the project through.
They could meet as early as Friday.
“We’ve got an opportunity with the downtown theater,” Lee said, adding that owner Dr. Ken Hoff, Lee’s father-in-law, is willing to pass the facility on to the community. He said the group will be responsible for the direction of the theater.
Lee noted there are two potential options for restoring the space and an additional idea for a movie theater. The options: re-open as a two-screen cinema; open as a community theater, emphasizing performing arts and making it available for special events. He also suggested there could be the option of attracting or building a state-of-the-art multiple-screen movie theater on the south side of Rochester.
A member of the audience commented that a lack of interest led to the closing of the Times and questioned whether there’s enough interest in building a larger theater. Susie Hilton, who last managed the theater, said she closed it because sound was down on one side and she couldn’t book films because a digital upgrade was needed. Lee said Hoff is not interested in upgrading the theater’s sound and picture. “Location is key,” Mayor Ted Denton said of building a new movie theater. “If it’s out there by the bypass it won’t be just people from Rochester.” Lee reiterated Denton’s sentiment, adding what Rochester needs right now are people from outside the community coming here to spend money. Fulton County Chamber of Commerce Director Amy Roe said the Times Theater could be that economic development driver that brings people in.
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