09/30/2026
STATE THEATER: 7 PROPOSALS, TOUGH QUESTIONS & NO WINNER YET
Garden City’s September 29 town hall offered sharply different futures for the State Theater: a restored historic theater, a cigar business with phased theater reuse, an immersive arts attraction, an outdoor plaza, a live-performance venue and an arts center.
Mayor Tom Nguyen’s and City Council Commissioners questions helped bring the discussion back to what each applicant could actually finance and complete.
Commissioners ended the evening directing staff to return October 27 with evaluations and follow-up answers. No project was selected, no construction funding was committed and no demolition was approved.
The city received seven applications. Five applicants presented in person, one presented through a prerecorded video, and one submitted a written proposal without presenting.
Here’s what each proposed—and what remained unresolved.
FINNEY COUNTY PRESERVATION ALLIANCE
Brian Nelson presented a plan to restore the theater’s 1929 character for performances, films, concerts and community events.
The written proposal estimates restoration at $4.05 million, with a $4.5 million capital campaign and a ten-year fundraising, restoration and stabilization horizon. The alliance prefers city ownership with nonprofit operation.
Garden City High School students would help through the Leadership in Action class, building on their work at the Windsor Hotel. Commissioners asked about rising construction costs and continuity as students graduate.
The alliance requests city participation in fire-sprinkler and life-safety work but says that contribution is not a condition for proceeding.
1878 CIGAR HOUSE
Roman Simon did not attend in person. Staff did, however, play his prerecorded presentation during the town hall.
His proposal would begin with a premium cigar and to***co shop in the adjoining Memory Lane storefront, followed by work on the theater lobby, balcony and auditorium.
The plan seeks a nominal-cost or no-cost purchase with negotiated milestones and a provision allowing the property to revert to the city if meaningful progress does not occur. It does not establish a fixed total redevelopment budget before professional assessments.
Commissioners wanted clearer financing information and answers about what would happen if the storefront opened but later phases never materialized. Simon was not available to answer live; staff would relay those questions.
THE RABBIT HOLE
Trisha Elliott proposed an immersive arts destination combining interactive environments, theatrical storytelling, escape-room experiences, local art and community programming.
Her written plan covers approximately 36 months and lists a preliminary redevelopment estimate of $128,000 to $238,000. That estimate assumes favorable building conditions, including sound existing main lines and core machinery.
Elliott said the figures came from her own research and needed further work. A professional team, funding sources and a possible city partnership remained to be developed.
DOWNTOWN VISION
Patrick Herd proposed an approximately 8,000-square-foot open-air courtyard for movies, performances, markets, private events and everyday public use.
The concept would remove the roof while preserving recognizable features, including the marquee where feasible. Herd put the requested city investment at approximately $545,000 to $825,000 for demolition and basic construction—not simply roof removal.
Downtown Vision would pursue a long-term lease, provide amenities and handle operations, with lease payments and revenue sharing returned to the city.
It is a difficult preservation tradeoff: giving up the enclosed auditorium to create a usable outdoor gathering place. The range of possible uses gives the idea practical appeal, but success would depend on engineering, a workable operating plan and the city accepting the upfront cost.
Commission questions addressed structural support after roof removal, the basement and the organization’s comfort with demolition.
MARK PAMPLIN
Pamplin proposed a 400-seat live-performance venue with a thrust stage, placing audiences on three sides. Programming would include plays, children’s theater, comedy, music and community rentals.
He asked the city to provide the building and waive permit costs, describing grants, naming rights, sponsorships and donated materials as potential funding sources.
Mayor Tom Nguyen pressed him on three concrete issues:
• Did he have committed cash or awarded grants?
• What would the promised in-kind support actually amount to?
• Had he personally managed a construction budget of that size?
Pamplin said he had no committed cash or awarded grants. Nguyen questioned the specificity of an in-kind support letter, noting that a promise of resources did not establish the amount a business would contribute.
Pamplin cited an earlier building estimate of roughly $5.1 million and hoped donated materials and services would reduce costs. Firm dollar amounts for that support remained uncertain.
He also said he had not personally managed a construction budget of that scale and would find someone with the necessary expertise.
The exchange clarified the gap between the proposed programming and the work still required to finance and complete the building.
GARDEN CITY ARTS
Executive Director Katy Guthrie proposed purchasing the theater for $1 and leading an approximately $3 million capital campaign for classrooms, gallery and retail space, flexible event and performance space, and offices.
Preliminary capital costs range from approximately $3 million to $3.25 million, with an opening targeted for December 2029. Guthrie reported $21,250 already set aside for the campaign.
Garden City Arts brought an existing operation, preliminary design work and fallback renovation plans to the discussion. Those preparations gave commissioners concrete experience and alternatives to evaluate.
But most funding remained to be raised, and a fundraising feasibility study had not been completed. Commissioners asked about staffing, reduced-scope plans and possible additional requests to the city.
KELLY HERRADA
Herrada requested not to present. Her written proposal remained among the seven applications.
It calls for restoring the theater for classic movies, family programming, special events and community rentals, with professional assessment, budget development and fundraising as next steps.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
After the presentations, Nguyen asked that the city lay out all available choices: doing nothing, selecting an applicant, demolishing the property or putting it on the open market.
That was a request to identify options—not a motion to demolish the theater. Other commissioners favored completing the proposal process first.
Staff was directed to bring the issue back October 27 with commissioners’ evaluations and additional answers.
The proposals’ dollar figures cover different scopes and stages of planning. They are not competing bids for the same finished project.
The next decision will require commissioners to weigh each idea against the applicant’s ability to finance, complete and maintain it—and decide how much responsibility the city should retain.
-Growing Garden City
News Desk
