Wellman Theater Renovation Puts Girard in the Spotlight

GIRARD, Ohio – Reopening the Wellman Theater as a performing arts venue would be “the cherry on top” of this city’s revitalization, Mayor Mark Zuppo said.

The city will soon take the first step toward renovating the dilapidated building by soliciting bids for asbestos remediation.

It already has a handshake agreement with a local theater company to become its main tenant.

But plenty of work must first be done. The 90-year-old building on West Liberty Street, downtown, needs a thorough overhaul that will be expensive. “It will be seven figures,” Zuppo said.

The city has a head start on raising money for the project. It received $300,000 from this year’s state capital improvements budget for the theater renovation, and City Council had earlier earmarked $150,000 of its American Rescue Plan money for the project.

Earlier this year, Zuppo traveled to Washington, D.C., where he met with congressmen and senators from Ohio’s delegation to try to get additional funding.

The building – which the city purchased for $72,000 – needs a new roof, heating and air conditioning systems, restrooms and seating. The city has retained MS Consultants to do engineering work for the project.

Originally a movie theater, the Wellman building was most recently used by a local church, which moved out earlier this year.

With just 250 seats, it is much smaller than the 1,450-seat Robins Theatre in Warren, which reopened in 2020 after a $5 million rehabilitation.

“It’s more comparable to Main Street Theater [now Columbiana Arts Theater] in Columbiana,” Zuppo said.

Though no formal contract has been signed, Millennial Theatre Company is in line to make the Wellman its home. The theater company is waiting on approval of a rental proposal it has submitted to the city.

Millennial, which currently presents shows at the Hopewell Theatre in Youngstown, is known for its high-quality musicals.

Joe Asente, executive director of Millennial, expects talks with the city will become more concrete some time in the new year. His theater company could begin producing shows at the Wellman as soon as the 2026-27 season, he said.

The theater has very little space along the sides and rear of the stage, but Asente said he could make it work for live theater.

“I’ve been in there with the mayor, and we’ve discussed ideas on how to convert it,” said Asente, who is also a teacher in the Girard City School District. “It’s been a church for the last 15 to 20 years, so it already has a stage. It’s perfectly suited for what we do.”

Millennial would have to bring in its own sound and lighting equipment.

Having a nonprofit such as Millennial as a partner would make more dollars available from foundations for grants for the renovation work, according to Zuppo.

But the benefit of having a resident theater company goes far beyond grant eligibility. The theater would draw people downtown, who would in turn make it vibrant and attractive to new businesses and restaurants, he said.

“It could be the centerpiece of our revitalization,” Zuppo said. “There are already a number of companies interested in bringing their company to Girard.”

The theater could also be rented to organizations such as dance schools who need a venue for recitals, Zuppo said.

The former city councilman is completing his first year as mayor. He previously worked for 40 years for a medical equipment company.

“I was a salesman for 40 years, and now I am selling the city of Girard,” he said.

Girard already has a lot going for it, including a busy downtown with businesses, restaurants and the unique Past Times pinball arcade and museum.

The D422 recreational marijuana dispensary opened this year on South State Street, downtown, and a second dispensary will open in the near future at the corner of North State Street and Churchill Road.

The city’s greatest characteristic might be its location, Zuppo said. It’s at the center of the Mahoning Valley and also has its own exit and entrance to Interstate 80.

Girard also boasts a strong school system, free or low-cost ambulance service, plenty of city-run recreation programs and a solid core of business owners.

“Our schools are on the upswing,” Zuppo said. “With open enrollment, we have a waiting list for students who want to come here.”

He wants to give youths a solid education that will lead them to college, and then give them a reason to return to their hometown to live.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.