Park Theater renovation project moves forward
Under new ownership, this iconic 1938 Avon movie theater will be renovated and reopened for movies, 
music & live theatre
Long time Avon resident Ann Younger purchased the Park Theatre on Genesee Street in Avon, NY, and is working with area residents and the Village of Avon to revitalize this depression-era movie venue. Younger closed on the theater on Friday, July 27th, and is already moving forward toward making her dream – shared by many others – a reality. In keeping with the theater’s roots, Younger‘s plans for the theater includes showing of movies from the theater’s heyday as well as providing a stage for regional performance arts and entertainments. She has already connected with a number of artists interested in using the refurbished space.
The Park Theater showed movies in Avon from 1938 until 2003. In 1940s, not long after it first opened, the theater became part of the Kallet chain of movie theaters. Younger shared that this was a time when theaters “really started selling popcorn,” as they transitioned from an upper-class pastime to an entertainment option for the masses. The Park Theater was one of the first movie theaters in the Rochester area to have air conditioning – which added to its popularity as a summer-time entertainment destination. The Park – and many other smaller movie theaters in the area – remained economically viable until television and videos gradually usurped going out to the movies. The Park showed its last movie in 2003, when the major movie studios changed from film to digital format distribution. The Park was sold and used for storage for the next 15 years.
Fast forward to 2018: Younger has now purchased The Park Theater and the Village of Avon has secured a $400,000 grant to restore and renovate the building. Like many other historic performance venues, the theater is set to become a feature, future attraction. There is much to be done: The building needs a new roof, exterior masonry work and energy upgrades. The interior – which is still adorned with movie posters and other remnants of its more than half century movies – also needs extensive work. A new digital projection system will be installed to host themed movie events and a stage will be built to accommodate live performances. The retail spaces on either side of the theater entrance will also be renovated and leased out, adding to this vibrant downtown street.
Despite the immense task that stands before her, Ann Younger is dedicated to helping the Park Theater shine out in the community brighter than it ever has. She has initiated the process for becoming a non-profit and already has a large number of like-minded folks ready to assist with the project. Her enthusiasm and the support of the Town of Avon and the community are already having a ripple effect. After talking with Younger I met up with Anna Prouty as she added finishing touches to her soon to open business, *Geek Chic Floral Boutique. At twenty-six, Prouty gave up full-time work as an accountant to open the store – where she will sell her wares and those of other local artisans. She chose her new Genesee Street retail location, in part, due to the planned reopening of Park Theater.