North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - Assemblyman Bill Conrad alongside the Riviera Theatre's Board of Directors announced Thursday morning $250,000 secured in grant funding to aid in the second phase of the historic theatre's expansion project.
"I think it's fair to say that the Riviera here is an institution, a cultural anchor and a historical landmark. It's not just a centerpiece of arts in North Tonawanda and its ever growing downtown, but of our greater community, region, and of course, state. We as a collective audience owe it to the Twin Cities, Western New York and our state, and we owe it to our future generations to ensure the Riviera has longevity as a signature attraction, source of identity and hometown pride," said Assemblyman Conrad.
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This challenge grant seeks to continue the work of their expansion project of the space purchased and acquired in September of last year for a new box office, new ADA compliant bathrooms and a new concession area.
"This will enhance the concert-going experience. Where we stand, we're also going to have a full service bar, complete with large screen TVs that will show what's going on our stage right next door at the Riviera Theatre, so you can watch the concert from the lobby if you would like. We're going to have an outdoor patio with a bar and merchandise area, new offices, new box office, which will certainly be easy to access for our patrons to purchase tickets. I want to also add we've, in the six years I've been here, accumulated a collection of autographed guitars from the artists that have performed here, and we're gonna have a guitar while this can display all those autographs should be quite a sight and an attraction," said David Fillenwarth, Executive Director of the theatre.
This $250,000 will be used as a challenge grant to be matched by public donations when the theatre's Capital Campaign kicks off September 1, 2023.
"We have achieved close to 78% of our $3 million estimated budget and are announcing and are now announcing our capital campaign to close that gap. We are confident our 100% goal will be met," says Riviera Theatre's Chairman of the Board, Larry Denef.
Denef projects the "dedication" of the project will be in the Spring of 2024, well before the 100th anniversary of the theatre on December 30, 2026.
"We've been talking about this forever, nut now it's real. All new glass in the front should be coming in the first week of September. As soon as our bridge loan comes through, which could be any day now, we're gonna go full force and get this thing completed. We're looking, as long as we don't run into any problems with with construction, labor and materials to dedicate this sometime in the spring of 2024."