Community working to help Drexel
The Drexel Theatre is having a difficult time financially and owner Jeff Frank is hoping Bexley
will help support it.
Mayor John Brennan announced at a public meeting last week that the city is working with the Drexel to bolster business.
"The Drexel is struggling," Brennan said at a retreat focusing on the future of Bexley. "The Drexel needs our support if it hopes to stay open."
Brennan said he has been working with the Drexel to generate ideas for increasing business, such as extending the theatre's $5 movie night beyond Monday and selling a block of tickets to Bexley residents. After the retreat, Brennan said he would like to see Bexley residents support the Drexel.
"A lot of people think about it. When was the last time they were in it?" he asked.
Frank said the Drexel is considered a specialized theatre or arts theatre. For the past 28 years the main goal of the theatre was to play films that were not being shown elsewhere in Columbus, including foreign, independent and art films.
But the specialty art film business went through a big transformation in the past year and a half, with a number of companies that distribute specialized films going out of business, Frank said.
"Over half the specialized distributors closed their doors in the last year," he said.
Companies that continue to produce independent films have decreased the number of films being released. Specialized films that have opened recently have underperformed at the box office at art theatres across the country.
"We decided to see if we can put together some people in the community to see if we can come up with a plan ... to get through these dry spells," Frank said.
Frank said he also attended a conference at Sundance in February with other art theatre owners. He is quick to commend the community for its support.
"I have heard nothing but people saying they want this place to stay open," Frank said.
Bexley residents David and Bonnie Milenthal are working to help the theatre through the difficult times.
"They called us and asked us to meet them and explained to us that they were struggling with the economy," Bonnie Milenthal said. "We were brainstorming things to do."
She said many local independent neighborhood theatres are using nonprofit status to overcome struggles.
The Drexel has a short-range challenge of raising some immediate capital and longer-range opportunities to create a better centerpiece for Bexley and Columbus, she said.
"I think the Drexel is unique," she said. "One of the things I love about living in Bexley is it's more like a neighborhood."
Bexley City Council member Ben Kessler, who chairs the city's Land Use Master Plan Commission, said the Drexel is a significant property in Bexley.
"Because it is a landmark building ... I think that we need to continue to encourage the community to support the theatre," he said.
Planning commission chairman Mike Simpson said the Drexel is important to Bexley but the city would survive without it.
"Main Street does not live and die by that theatre," he said. "I certainly hope the theatre survives and that people patronize it. If not, we will find a higher and better use for the real estate."
Mayor John Brennan announced at a public meeting last week that the city is working with the Drexel to bolster business.
"The Drexel is struggling," Brennan said at a retreat focusing on the future of Bexley. "The Drexel needs our support if it hopes to stay open."
Brennan said he has been working with the Drexel to generate ideas for increasing business, such as extending the theatre's $5 movie night beyond Monday and selling a block of tickets to Bexley residents. After the retreat, Brennan said he would like to see Bexley residents support the Drexel.
"A lot of people think about it. When was the last time they were in it?" he asked.
Frank said the Drexel is considered a specialized theatre or arts theatre. For the past 28 years the main goal of the theatre was to play films that were not being shown elsewhere in Columbus, including foreign, independent and art films.
But the specialty art film business went through a big transformation in the past year and a half, with a number of companies that distribute specialized films going out of business, Frank said.
"Over half the specialized distributors closed their doors in the last year," he said.
Companies that continue to produce independent films have decreased the number of films being released. Specialized films that have opened recently have underperformed at the box office at art theatres across the country.
"We decided to see if we can put together some people in the community to see if we can come up with a plan ... to get through these dry spells," Frank said.
Frank said he also attended a conference at Sundance in February with other art theatre owners. He is quick to commend the community for its support.
"I have heard nothing but people saying they want this place to stay open," Frank said.
Bexley residents David and Bonnie Milenthal are working to help the theatre through the difficult times.
"They called us and asked us to meet them and explained to us that they were struggling with the economy," Bonnie Milenthal said. "We were brainstorming things to do."
She said many local independent neighborhood theatres are using nonprofit status to overcome struggles.
The Drexel has a short-range challenge of raising some immediate capital and longer-range opportunities to create a better centerpiece for Bexley and Columbus, she said.
"I think the Drexel is unique," she said. "One of the things I love about living in Bexley is it's more like a neighborhood."
Bexley City Council member Ben Kessler, who chairs the city's Land Use Master Plan Commission, said the Drexel is a significant property in Bexley.
"Because it is a landmark building ... I think that we need to continue to encourage the community to support the theatre," he said.
Planning commission chairman Mike Simpson said the Drexel is important to Bexley but the city would survive without it.
"Main Street does not live and die by that theatre," he said. "I certainly hope the theatre survives and that people patronize it. If not, we will find a higher and better use for the real estate."
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