[Peace-discuss] News-Gazette article Boardman ART Theater

[Stuart Levy]

On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 02:42:42AM +0000, jandurl at comcast.net wrote:
> It's your business: Owner looks at options for the Art
> Sunday July 13, 2008
> David Kraft figures it's going to take some time to find the right person to
> take over his historic downtown Champaign movie theater.  So he's starting
> his search early.  Kraft said Greg Boardman, the current operator of the
> 240-seat Art Theater at 126 W. Church St., has declined to continue after his
> contract ends at the end of 2009.  "I offered it to him for three more years,
> and he was not interested," he added.  That three years would have been at a
> higher rate, Kraft said, but not nearly the level of increase the city
> imposed on downtown parking.

"not nearly the level of increase"?  So he's patting himself on the back for
not tripling the rent?  Maybe he's only doubling it.  What rubbish.

> Boardman, who has operated the theater since
> 2003, didn't respond to questions regarding the theater.  Kraft, who once
> operated the Princess Theatre in LeRoy, contends the Art is in a desirable
> location, given all the redevelopment taking place in the vicinity.  He's
> looking for "an experienced, credible, financially stable" operator willing
> to pay market or near-market rent, he said.  His first choice is to see the
> vintage movie house remain a theater, he added, but he'll consider all
> options, including a sale that would involve a different use of the property.

It'll be a sad day if that theater is taken over to become another pricey restaurant
just to fatten Kraft.  He drove out Tom, the previous New Art operator, and now
it may well be that he's happy to drive out Greg Boardman too.
 
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at uiuc.edu> 
> 
> >> I hear that the Art Theatre is on the block or that (perhaps) Boardman himself 
> > just wants out. Either way, if true, it's not good news. --CGE 
> > 
> > 
> >
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