GENESEO- The long-defunct Riviera Movie Theater on Center Street has been given another chance at life as a multi-purpose movie theater and performing arts center.
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According to local developer and property manager Don Livingston, who is overseeing the project, the plan is to completely restore and renovate the theater while preserving its original 1930’s style, with an expanded stage, dance floor, and bistro. At the current rate of renovation, the theater could be open for public bookings as early as September 2014.
“You never know, little snags do come along, but we’re hopeful,” Livingston said. “It’s progressing slow and steady.”
Livingston added that on top of showing movies, anyone will be able to rent the hall for almost any event they can think of. The hall will be able to host plays, musicals, dinner shows, concerts, parties, lectures, anything that needs a nice big stage.
The Village Tavern has agreed to cater food and drinks for events, including alcoholic beverages. No bookings are scheduled just yet, but some event coordinators are already showing interest in the renewed facilities.
Developers are proud to revitalize the venue after seeing it boarded up for more than 20 years. The theater enjoyed a long and successful life before then, showing movies from the early 1900’s through 1988. As of today, the faded parapet on top of the building still bears the original owner’s name, “J-Aprile,” in reference to the original owner, Joseph Aprile, who built and opened the original movie theater in 1914.