We are officially under renovation at Thunder Bay Theatre.
Learn all about the project and future of the theater below!
After over three years of being closed due to water and smoke damage following a fire at the John A. Lau Saloon, repairs and renovations to the Thunder Bay Theatre building began on September 5th, 2023. The majority of the funding for the $1.4 million project was secured through a variety of state and local grants including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, State Historic Preservation Office, First Federal Legacy Foundation, and the Besser Foundation.
While the theater received insurance funds for the damage, the funds were not adequate to address all of the building needs.
President Anne Gentry shared, “It has been a long journey to get to this point requiring a lot of patience and determination to keep moving forward. The theater board has been unwavering in its plans to reopen and continue our mission of providing live theatre and educational opportunities for the Alpena community.”
Meridian Contracting Services and Meridian Restoration will be serving as general contractor on the project. Gentry added, “Todd Britton has been an invaluable partner throughout the preparation for the project, he’s provided great insight and recommendations on the structural repairs.”
The first priority for the building is to repair the brick facade, replace the windows, and replace the roof which has been in desperate need of repair for over five years. The project will then move to the interior of the building, which will include rebuilding the lobby, renovating the apartments upstairs, removing lead and asbestos, updating plumbing and electrical, and installing a new fire suppression system.
After our second fire in December 2023, we are uncertain what the renovation timeline will be but are committed to completing our renovation and reopening Thunder Bay Theatre.
Additional funding will be required to update the stage, lighting grid, and the auditorium.
While the theater received insurance funds for the damage, the funds were not adequate to address all of the building needs.
President Anne Gentry shared, “It has been a long journey to get to this point requiring a lot of patience and determination to keep moving forward. The theater board has been unwavering in its plans to reopen and continue our mission of providing live theatre and educational opportunities for the Alpena community.”
Meridian Contracting Services and Meridian Restoration will be serving as general contractor on the project. Gentry added, “Todd Britton has been an invaluable partner throughout the preparation for the project, he’s provided great insight and recommendations on the structural repairs.”
The first priority for the building is to repair the brick facade, replace the windows, and replace the roof which has been in desperate need of repair for over five years. The project will then move to the interior of the building, which will include rebuilding the lobby, renovating the apartments upstairs, removing lead and asbestos, updating plumbing and electrical, and installing a new fire suppression system.
After our second fire in December 2023, we are uncertain what the renovation timeline will be but are committed to completing our renovation and reopening Thunder Bay Theatre.
Additional funding will be required to update the stage, lighting grid, and the auditorium.
Renovation Details
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The organization is planning a full renovation of our over hundred-year-old building to repair damage from the 2020 fire and complete much other-needed updates throughout the building. Renovation is expected to total $1,440,530.
Activities include:
Activities include:
- Restoring our historic brick facades: tuck-pointing brick and repairing mortar
- Replacing all second-story windows and first-story doors
- Replacing all roofs on the building
- Creating new glass storefronts
- Renovating all second-story apartments, including repairing plaster, refinishing floors, building new kitchens and bathrooms
- Updating electrical and plumbing throughout the building, including adding AC units to the apartments
- Rebuilding the lobby and creating a new bar area with plumbing
- Creating a new office in the back of the auditorium
- Installing a new fires suppression system
- Remediating lead & asbestos throughout the building
Renovation Timeline
Exterior restoration began this September 2023. Meridian Restoration began their work on our back wall (that faces Lake Huron), which was in much worse condition than we thought. The top 4' of the wall has been rebuilt. Since then, the lead and asbestos has been remediated throughout the building, including safely removing asbestos from the pipes in our basement and lead present in the plaster upstairs.
The week of October 23, work started on the parapet wall on Fletcher St. This wall has been leaning in towards the roof even before the fire. Meridian Restoration is removing parts of it and will rebuilt it in its same historic appearance.
On December 3, 2023, our 7,000 sq ft back warehouse caught fire. Results from the investigation were inconclusive as what started the fire, but most likely it was a random occurrence due to old wiring. We are planning to start cleanup in Spring 2024 and then resume renovation on the rest of the building as planned.
The week of October 23, work started on the parapet wall on Fletcher St. This wall has been leaning in towards the roof even before the fire. Meridian Restoration is removing parts of it and will rebuilt it in its same historic appearance.
On December 3, 2023, our 7,000 sq ft back warehouse caught fire. Results from the investigation were inconclusive as what started the fire, but most likely it was a random occurrence due to old wiring. We are planning to start cleanup in Spring 2024 and then resume renovation on the rest of the building as planned.
Committed Funding
$725,923
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$80,000
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$110,000
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$100,000
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Thank you to the funders & partners who are making this renovation possible
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