Here are my arguments for why The Chief Theater should be protected and re-opened as an authentic downtown single-screen theater.

Just to recap why this is even an issue:

The Chief Theater opened in downtown Red Wing on January 21st. 1939. It was one of three downtown movie theaters and operated in a continuous fashion until 1994. Since then, it has been a bingo hall, a senior's center and several notorious bars. It is currently empty and has been for sale for over a year. The last business was a bar that was a trouble spot and a source of crime. The police were called on a regular basis. The bar closed when the liquor license was revoked because the operators had not bothered to get liability insurance.

The interior is actually in terrific shape. The main floor has been leveled (unfortunately) with poured concrete, but the restrooms have been updated, the roof and mechanicals are brand new and there is a full kitchen line complete with a walk-in cooler and two pizza ovens. The original screen is still in place. The projection room and the equipment are long gone, but the core of the screening room still exists (sans seats).

An argument could be made to save The Chief for either nostalgic or historic purposes. I feel an argument based on economic development is much stronger. With proper management and focus, a downtown theater can revitalize and re-energize a community. The Normal Theater in Normal, Il and the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis are success stories and the neighborhoods have thrived because these theaters have encouraged community investment. Restaurants, coffee shops, retail, housing and hotel projects have been attracted to these theaters because of the thriving foot traffic it creates and the sense of community.

Many of these types of theaters fail, mostly because of poor management. The successful theaters succeed because the screens are worked very hard. The Riverview can show up to four different movies on a given weekend day; something in the mornings for young families, early matinees for retired folk, early evening for couples and a midnight cult favorite. Not to mention film festivals, large group meetings and even rented for church services if necessary.

It attracts commerce, culture, young families and retirees. It is exactly what a core downtown needs to prosper and it is unique to Red Wing.

Downtown Red Wing has a terrific opportunity to save something that other communities have had, lost and now regret. Red Wing government agencies are always talking about smart, long term investments. They only need to look at 325 Bush Street.