State Theatre to open social club in former pizza parlor

LOGANSPORT, Ind. (AP) - Red, yellow and granite bricks haven't seen the light of day in decades - until now, with the further expansion of Logansport's downtown entertainment venue.

Kevin Burkett, a Logansport native and owner of the State Theatre, has been revitalizing the city's oldest-standing theater since summer 2014. His next step is creating the Social Club, a hangout area next to the theater.

Burkett wants the space - located at the far end of the building - to become an area for people to gather before and after shows or during the week. He wants to open it this spring.

"The idea is for us to try to get it opened up and see how the community responds to it," Burkett told the Pharos-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1KyZvnK ).

Burkett said he plans to put a portable bar in the 400-square-foot Social Club to serve alcohol and other drinks for event-goers to enjoy before or after shows at the theater. The space will also have tables and chairs to seat 20 to 30 people.

Then during the week, he wants to attract other community members - mainly young adults between ages 16 and 21, as a group that he said doesn't have many places to go in town.

Burkett said he envisions open mic nights and acoustic music shows as the entertainment in the Social Club during the week. He added that they could serve coffee for people to enjoy. Burkett said clubs and church groups could also rent the space during the week for meetings.

Logansport Cass County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Cuppy said it's important to have a place for young people to go, especially in a town that doesn't have many options.

"We don't have that, it's untapped," Cuppy said about a hangout for young adults. "I see that as a need and a great benefit."

The future Social Club will sit in a space that has been home to various businesses throughout Logansport's history, including Long's Cleaners Launderers when the State Theatre began in 1940, Eunice's Beauty Salon in 1964 and also the State Pizza Parlor, which lasted from 1968 to 1988, according to information Cass County Historical Director Thelma Conrad culled from Logansport city directories.

Because of the rich history of the building that sits at 321 E. Market St., Burkett said he wants to restore the building to much of its original interior, including exposed brick walls on both sides of the space and high ceilings.

Burkett and Mark Wolfe, contractor, had to pry and chip layers of wood paneling, plaster and wallpaper to get to the bricks.

The space used to have interior walls, but those were removed to create an open concept for the Social Club. New windows, floor joists and subfloors were also installed in some areas, Burkett said. He plans to put a raised bar near the windows to overlook the sculpture "The Dancers" situated across Market Street from the theater.

"It was a much bigger space than I ever thought," Burkett said of the former pizza parlor.

The building has a second storefront, which Burkett said will be used for bathrooms and will have an entrance into the theater. But first, they have to cut through brick for the opening. Burkett said those are much needed, as the current theater bathrooms are on the second floor.

Cuppy said the State Theatre has provided a centralized area for entertainment, something downtown has needed. He said it's brought more focus to downtown which has and will continue to benefit businesses.

"People look forward to it," Cuppy said about the State. "People are focusing on the marquee to see what's coming up."

As the theater continues to thrive and once the Social Club opens, Cuppy said, businesses could expand hours if there's enough traffic at night. He said people could then buy retail and go out to eat more, and later.

"It's entertainment that drives people at night," Cuppy said.

Burkett said he hopes to generate good revenue from the Social Club to keep it going. If not, he said they will have restored storefront space they could rent out to another business.

Cuppy said he is encouraged about Burkett's vision for the theater and for downtown Logansport.

"It's great to see people that have the vision that he does and the effort to fix it up, and to come back where they're from and to better our community," Cuppy said. "Hats off to him."

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Information from: Pharos-Tribune, http://www.pharostribune.com