LOMPOC, Calif. -- Even After Lompoc's oversight board voted against repairing the Lompoc theater, a local business owner has formed a group to try and save it.
"It's not over until the fat lady sings and the fat day's going to have to sing in the Lompoc theater," says Lompoc business owner Brian Cole.
That's the hope of music shop owner Brian Cole. He's spearheading a community-run group called "Lompoc Theater Project" that is trying to save the Lompoc theater.
The group will work to raise enough funds to repair and operate the theater.
"First getting the roof repaired. That's the first order of business raising the money to do that and later taking care of the facade and the interior renovations as well and ultimately running the theater," says Cole.
He says he is basing his model of an Arts and Economic Prosperity study of two similar cities that have done the same.
Traverse City, MI with the population of 14,000 restored its theater and generated a sales volume of $1.8 million a year.
Redbank, NJ with a population of 12,000 restored its theater and generated a sales volume of $3.5 million a year.
"As a tourist attraction to show we are indeed alive down here, a theater is a major thing to have in this specific area," says Cole.
Cole is presenting his plans to city council and says he hopes his group will work with the city to try and revitalize the theater.
The group is trying to establish itself as a non-profit.
Once it gets that status, it can start collecting donations and raising funds to repair the Lompoc theater.
