A movie theater in Knoxville is getting help with renovations.
Fridley Theaters is donating the building to the non-profit group working to restore the movie house.
The Grand Theater on Knoxville’s town square closed in 2011 but volunteers want to overhaul the theater — adding a digital projector, new furnace and air conditioner, bathrooms and other upgrades.
Acquiring the building is a major step for the project.
Dylan Morse with the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce says the Grand Theater will become more than just a place to enjoy the latest movie
“It will be a first run movie theater and all of that, but it’s going to be a space and a venue for live performances, for speakers and event education and the historic restoration of it of course. It’s a big deal for Knoxville and a big deal for the area going forward,” says Morse.
The budget for the restoration project is $500,000.
Morse says people from Knoxville and all over the country have donated money so far and a Knoxville bank donated $20,000 this week.
