Potential buyers for the Regent Movie Theater in downtown Wellington are taking a second look at the property.
Chairman and CEO of Grande Venues Inc., Paul Warshauer said he will be returning to Sumner County this week with a business partner to take a second look at the property and its earning potential.
Grande Venues Inc., is known for preserving historic theatres across the United States.
On Warshauer’s first trip to town, current owner Kevin Beggs of Wellington was showing off the theater both inside and out — highlighting the historic features long forgotten or covered up by previous owners.
Beggs bought the theater in 2003 and tried to make a go at the business, but it’s been years since the Regent has drawn a movie crowd.
“Anything I did never did as well as I wanted. I didn’t know what the flaw was,” said Beggs, during the first meeting.
On Warshauer’s first trip he said he sees huge potential in the historic theater in the form of a two-part business model.
“This is a difficult time to do new business, however, every one of the projects we have been involved with involved a two part plan...There has to be a for-profit entity...but then for people to help and get involved with it, you need a non-for-profit group because they can accept charitable contributions,” said Warshauer.
“I would love for this community to rip off the old wood stuff on the front and bring back this Spanish revival...but we still have to look at it and that involves an architect, engineers and people and it costs money,” said Warshauer.
Programming and management of the theater is also essential to its success he says. Getting first-run movies and hosting special events like sporting events that serve alcohol and The Godfather Trilogy festivals are key.
“Those are the creative programming ideas that we have,” said Warshauer.
If the theater were to start operating again and be the success Warshauer is hoping for, it could create an economic domino effect.
“It definitely brings people into the area because there is no entertainment venue unless you are going to Wichita or Winfield, so if we have something into the area it would bring people into the community and then you’d have people going out to eat afterwards,” said Sumner County Economic Development Director Janice Hellard.
Great movies and snacks add up to a bigger element needed in Wellington — quality of life.
“This has become a real big issue with companies and site selectors because people are starting to be more interested in that type of information in selecting where to put their business,” said Hellard. “They want their employees to have a good lifestyle.”
Having something to do on a Saturday afternoon, without having to leave Wellington would be a huge draw for the community, Hellard said.
“It’s one of those things, that as our community grows, it is something we would like to see move in and improve that quality of life.” said Hellard.
She hopes silver screen stars will once again return to Wellington.
“It would be a huge benefit to the community to have a movie theater.” Hellard said.
Wellington, Kan. —
