Old Broadway Theatre breathes new life through new market project
CAPE GIRRDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Just a few years ago, the Old Broadway Theater, was facing demolition but through some strong community pushback and a new owner, the historic building is now getting a revamp.
The Old Broadway Theater located at 805 Broadway Street was built in 1921 according to records and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The building is now undergoing a three-part redevelopment project.
Brennon Todt, Owner of Todt Roofing purchased the Old Broadway Theatre located in downtown Cape Girardeau and is now on phase two of a project that will bring the once old and somewhat forgotten brick building new life and introducing the Broadway Market concept.
“We want to create a hub here in the downtown area with this market and so the idea is that this building used to be a hub in the community, and it would attract people from all over to come and enjoy entertainment and now the goal is to write the next chapter of the broadway theater building” says Todt.
Todt shares that he is currently working on the project and estimates the construction to be done in about a year but he’s looking for interested vendors who may be interested in the space now.
“Well, right now we’re going to say it’s open to anyone and the reason we say that is because we want the community’s voice to be what fills this market” says Todt. “So, we’re going to leave it up to the community. However, we are looking for the market to be a vibrant space that has a lot of traffic throughout the day, which would mean we’re looking for maybe more food industry, whether that’s actual, you know, restaurants or even groceries, maybe fresh bread, maybe we can get a butcher, maybe we can get seafood, maybe we can get, craftsmen who are making specific.”
Liz Haynes, is the Executive Director of Old Town Cape inc. she shares that she has gotten a personal look on the community involvement in saving the theatre, she shares her excitement for the next chapter.
“It’s extremely exciting to have seen, you know, the history of this building” says Haynes. First of all, you know, as it was a hub of activity, for many, many years, both in its origins as a vaudeville, performing arts, theater and then in its next chapter as, the Broadway Theater a lot of people in the community have a lot of nostalgia and memories about that being a dollar theater, where you could go and see second rent movies to then, unfortunately, sitting vacant for decades. you know, and now seeing this renewed interest is, it is just really, really exciting as we’re writing, it’s next chapter.”
Interested vendors can contact Brennan Todt.
