After two years of a hiatus, expect foot traffic to pick up at one of Elizabethton’s famous structures.
The Elizabethton-Carter County Community Foundation (ECCF) stood alongside city and county officials to present their check of $111,700 to the City of Elizabethton for the purchase of the Bonnie Kate Theatre Thursday.
“Today is the last step of the first ladder and the first step of the next ladder,” said John Huber, a local business owner and key cog in securing the building. “That includes the restoration. The building is in the city hands so we can move forward now with renovations.”
Elizabethton City Council members convened in a special-called meeting on prior to the presentation to amend the 2015-16 budget to recognize the purchase of the building.
Following the check presentation, the city will turn around and pay the owners the funds to begin work. The grant award was presented to the city of June 9.
“This is a great thing, the Bonnie Kate is a landmark here in Elizabethton, Carter County and East Tennessee,” Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander said. “We’re just glad to have it back and be part of it. There is no tax revenue … no tax money or government money went into this purchase. The East Tennessee Foundation raised the funds to purchase the building. This is a very exciting time.”
What served as a movie theater, restaurant and had other functions since being built in 1926 was shut down two years ago. With work expected moving forward, Huber projects the restoration to take three years.
“Our next plan is to set up a business plan,” he said. “Then we’ll start raising money after that. We’ve talked to some agencies but there’s nothing as of yet.”
Huber added that the current plan in place is to help get the Sugar Love Bakery & Cafe set up for the September 1 opening.
“That’ll give us money to help keep the lights on,” Huber said with a smile. “We have some big plans ahead.”
The Bonnie Kate will offer various events and items, including mobile media, a community theatre, music, teleconferencing, wedding, corporate functions and as Huber stated, “all of the above.”