Rochester Today – Mayor Discusses Chateau Theater

Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede has been doing some research regarding the future of the Chateau Theatre in downtown Rochester.

During one of his regular appearances on KROC-AM with Tracy McCray and Andy Brownell on the Rochester Today Show Wednesday morning, the Mayor provided an update on a recent fact-finding mission to the Twin Cities.

Brede spoke with representatives of The Hennepin Theatre Trust. The non-profit group was established in 2000 to preserve and operate the historic State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres along Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. The group has a long-term financial arrangement with the City of Minneapolis that will eventually transfer ownership of the three theaters to the trust in what Brede described as "kind of a" Contract for Deed.

The Mayor also met with the head of the Ordway Center for Performing Arts and St. Paul and was given some valuable advice concerning the opportunities and pitfalls of running a theater. Brede noted the Ordway organization suggested some of their performances might be available for limited runs at the Chateau if the Rochester facility ends up returning to its roots as a performing arts center.

Mayor Brede is a member of the Destination Medical Center Corporation Board, which is scheduled to meet Thursday and discuss whether to designate the Chateau Theater as part of the DMC initiative.