Construction continues on movie theater in downtown Dowagiac
Published 8:17 am Monday, January 5, 2015
Ken Allen, who has been working on the soon-to-be movie theater in downtown Dowagiac since the fall of 2013, predicts the establishment will be up and running in time for the summer moving-going season. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)
Local fans of the silver screen will have a new destination to look forward to in 2015, possibly in time for blockbuster season.
Construction continued throughout 2014 on a new, single-screen movie theater, located downtown inside the former home of Mr. K’s Warehouse on Front Street. So far, crews have completed most of the work to theater area, with the seating, carpet and woodwork already in place, said developer Ken Allen.
“All the remaining work will be focused on building the upstairs apartments and the ticket area,” Allen said. “We want to dress up the front a little better as well before opening.”
Allen, head of Forrest Fin LLC and a resident of Sister Lakes, has been working alongside the city and its downtown development authority since September of 2013 to transform the former retail store into a new entertainment destination for residents and visitors of the Grand Old City. The two have worked together to secure more than $20,000 worth of grant funding from the USDA and Michigan Economic Development Corporation to help pay for construction.
“We’ve been very pleased with the project since the beginning,” said Dowagiac City Manager Kevin Anderson. “It could be an excellent destination and a real draw to the downtown area.”
Originally, Allen had intended on developing the lower half of the building first into a 128-seat theater, then later convert the upstairs area into three apartments for lease. However, he has been forced to modify plans in light of state building codes, he said.
“It has come down to where we have to do the whole building at the same time,” Allen said.
The developer has been meeting with architects to help draft designs for the apartments. Once completed, construction will begin on that area of the building, he said.
While a possible completion date is still up in the air, Allen said the building is due for opening this year, likely by summer.
“I think it will be a good, viable business for the downtown,” he said. “With 128 seats, it’s just the right size for a city the size of Dowagiac.”
