Historic Evansville Theater to Get New Life
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA historic theater in downtown Evansville is under new ownership. A pair of investors has acquired the Alhambra Theater, which has been closed since 1956, and plans to transform the building for a new use, though plans have not been finalized.
The investors include Ken Haynie and Aaron Kendall, both from FC Tucker Emge Realtors in southwest Indiana. Haynie tells Inside INdiana Business his company, Alhambra Events LLC, acquired the property for $10 and paid an undisclosed sum to the Arts Council of Southwest Indiana to purchase the organization’s option for the building and the vacant lot behind it.
Haynie and Kendall say, while a final decision has not been made, plans for the revitalized theater could include an events gallery and restaurant. The Alhambra Theater was build in 1913 as a silent movie theater, which later added movies with sound.
“Aaron & I are thrilled to become part of the thriving Haynie’s Corner Art District," said Haynie. "The District is a fabulous place for residents and guests alike. The sense of community in this neighborhood makes it an inviting place to live, work and visit. We aim to make this beautiful and significant building a very special place for all to enjoy."
The city of Evansville previously used a nearly $400,000 federal grant to renovate and preserve the building’s exterior.