Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced at a press conference late last month that the Midtown Market District, Inc., a non-profit group responsible for facilitating the theatre’s return, will receive a $250,000 loan from the city’s Business Revolving Loan Program. According to the mayor, this loan was the only way the theatre project could come to fruition, and, if the theatre were to remain in operation for at least 10 years the “unconventional loan” will be excused under the terms of the agreement. Once approved by city council, the Midtown Market District will be able to purchase the existing building at 250 Reilly Street at a reduced cost from local businessman Alex Grass. Grass, the founder of Rite Aid and the current owner of the building, has agreed to donate $100,000 of the building’s appraised value to the group.

Reed said that without the loan, there was no foreseeable way that the return of theatre to the midtown could have occurred, as with renovation costs totaling over $200,000 as well as regular upkeep expenses, “even with the rents that will be received from all prospective tenants, it would be insufficient to cover a regular mortgage.” Once renovated, the approximately 10,000 square feet that make up the one story building will house a three-screen cinema in half of the structure and a cultural activities center in the remaining space. While the occupant of the cultural center has yet to be determined, interested vendors include artistic enterprises such as local dance and music groups.

The return of theatre to the midtown district was brought about as a result of the closing of the former Palmyra Arts Cinema, which lost its lease after years of serving local movie fans. According to the Midtown Market District board members, Allen Brown, the owner of the Palmyra theatre, will be in charge of the operations of the Midtown theatre and will continue to show the caliber of movies typical of his previous establishment. Those films are the foreign, independent, and first-run films that are becoming increasingly popular with the average movie-goer, as was seen with the success of the unique pictures honored at the recent Academy Awards. That eclectic variety of films will not only capitalize on the neighborhood feel of having a cinema in downtown Harrisburg, it will also draw upon the existing interests of the people from areas all over the midstate who currently travel away from the city to quench their artistic desires.

While renovations on the Reilly Street building are set for summer and are expected to be completed by fall, it is also highly realistic that their completion will bring much more than a finished theatre akin to those found in Harrisburg more than a quarter century ago. The return of the theatre is seen by all parties involved as a sure sign of the city’s resurgence as an arts and entertainment district and brings along with it much more than mere film. Along with the theatre, the Midtown Market District board members, as well as the Mayor, hope to create a spin-off effect of community activities and businesses that will emerge in the burgeoning artistic area.

Harrisburg attorney Todd J. Shill, of Rhoads & Sinon LLP, a Midtown Market District board member who spearheaded the midtown cinema project was overjoyed by the final realization of the board’s goal. He, too, is certain that, with continual community and business support and development, the midtown district could become a cultural mecca in its own right. According to Shill, “by cross-marketing the existing midtown businesses with the cinema and opening new businesses to complement the cinema, midtown can become the next South Street.”