Theater sale appears likely

The Columbia Theatre Inc. board of directors wants the money upfront in cash.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- It looks like Tony Butala will get his shot at reopening and renovating the Columbia Theater.
The board of directors of Columbia Theatre Inc. announced Friday that it has offered to sell the West State Street building to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation for $10,000.
Butala, a Sharon native and member of The Lettermen singing trio, is chairman and founder of the foundation, which owns the Vocal Group Hall of Fame & amp; Museum on East State Street.
Columbia Theatre Inc. was formed to renovate and restore the theater, which has been closed since its entryway was destroyed in a fire in early 1981.
However, the group announced last fall that it had given up on that effort and would try to sell the partially refurbished building.
Efforts to raise the estimated $6 million needed to restore it were unsuccessful and there appeared to be a lack of community support for the effort both to refurbish and to maintain the structure, the group said.
Butala's previous offer
Butala, who bought the theater at a Mercer County tax sale in 1984 and gave it to Columbia Theatre Inc. for $1, said he wanted to regain title to the structure.
He said he has a plan and a promise from a large number of vocal singing groups to perform benefit concerts to help finance the restoration.
He said last month that he offered $10,000 for the building, enough to cover Columbia Theatre Inc.'s remaining debt on the project, but the offer was rejected.
Atty. Richard Epstein, a member and spokesman for the Columbia Theatre Inc. board, said that offer wasn't a cash deal but included only a $100 down payment and a promise to cover the group's debts up to a total of $10,000.
The board didn't consider that an acceptable offer, he said at the time.
On Friday, Epstein said that's still the case but that the board will sell the theater to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation for $10,000 cash.
The group wants the money upfront, not as a down payment with future installments, he said, adding the offer was made to Butala on Friday morning.
Optimistic
"We got their letter. We're reviewing it and expecting to respond positively," said Bob Crosby, president and chief executive officer of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation.
He declined to comment further until the deal is sealed, but the indication is the foundation will come up with the money to buy the theater.
Butala had taken his plan public, asking for support for his efforts to regain control of the theater, and Crosby said the public support has been strong.
Epstein said the theater has been for sale to Butala or anyone willing to make a bona fide offer on the property.