BELLEVUE, Ky. -- An old neighborhood movie theater could see new life if a developer has his way.
Kent Hardman recently signed a notification of intent with the city of Bellevue to purchase and renovate the Marianne Theater on Fairview Avenue if he can line up the funding and a tenant.
“I have a brewer in mind,” said Hardman. “Really, what I need to do right now is finalize the project."
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Bellevue’s city council placed an option to purchase the theater built in 1942 for $138,000 in May of last year with hopes to save the local icon from further deterioration, or destruction. The building was then placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique architecture and contribution to its community.
MARIANNE THEATER
Hardman said he answered a call for developers and ideas the council put out for the theater that last showed a movie in the late 1990s.
Past redevelopment projects for Hardman include turning Jackson Theater in Cincinnati into apartments and the redevelopment of Cincinnati’s oldest firehouse, located on Peebles Corner, into Fireside Pizza in 2014.
Hardman could not provide a hard and fast timeline for when he might move forward with the purchase of the Marianne. He also said he’s in talks with that local brewer, but is withholding more information until he can firm up his plans for the old theater.
“I need to do my due diligence before we move ahead with the project,” he said.
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