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State Theatre closes its doors

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BY MICAH MERTES / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - 12:21:26 am CST

Nearly 18 months after opening as a place to catch a movie and have a beer, the State Theatre, 1415 O St., is closed.

David McNeil, who co-owned the business with his wife, Takako McNeil, said he had to give up the State for financial reasons.

McNeil had notified the building’s owners, Speedway Motors, that he thought he’d have to close his business soon. He got word from the owners late last week that he’d have to close within a few days.

Story Photo
The State Theatre had lots of space -- even when it was converted into a nightclub called Studio 14, shown here in this 2000 file photo. (LJS File Photo)

Related Link(s):


3.27.07: State Theatre reopens as second-run movie house

The theater has taken on several new styles in its history. It was a movie theater for 50 years before closing in 1992. It then housed several nightclubs, and it sat vacant for a year before the McNeils took a shot at it.

In June 2007, the husband-wife team from Oregon leased the 8,000-square-foot venue to give Lincolnites a new way to see films — under the influence. The inspiration for the State came from the McMenamins chain of theater-pubs, which the McNeils had seen succeed in the Pacific Northwest.  The couple also considered locations in California and Hawaii before choosing Lincoln.

The McNeils tinkered with their business model earlier this year, when they began featuring concerts and comedy acts in addition to movies.  

A ministry called RiverTree and a coffee shop called Kinetic Brew that also occupy the 1415 O St. location will remain in the venue until further notice.

Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.


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what about wrote on November 14, 2008 12:37 am:
" What about a comedy club? Lincoln doesn't have one... Funnybone, are you reading??? There could be some good acts coming through... Open mic nights.... a start for funnyboners...... "
Aaron wrote on November 14, 2008 1:03 am:
" I don't think it was a bad idea, but I don't like going down town with all drunken kids. Location, Location, Location! "
InKC wrote on November 14, 2008 1:47 am:
" That's too bad. I liked going to that place before I moved. Going to a show and going to movies like Superbad there was a blast. "
Sad wrote on November 14, 2008 6:40 am:
" Please bring back StarShip 9! I will always wonder why that closed. Movies are to expensive to pay full price when you have a big family, Both owners of the theaters are very rich, oh yeah thats right for the price of a movie who wouldn't be. Com'on have love for the lower and middle class. "
Outside the Box wrote on November 14, 2008 8:17 am:
" It's not the "drunken students", it's that people in Lincoln won't go to a movie unless there are 10 acres of free parking available right outside the door.

Downtown you need to look or pay for parking - a big deterrent for many. "
Movie tickets wrote on November 14, 2008 8:43 am:
" The owners probably didn't make much off of ticket sales, therefore they hike the prices up on the concession stand foods. Ticket sales usually go up because the cost of the movies go up for the theatres to purchase them.

I agree though, we need somewhere to watch cheaper films. Lincoln definitely doesn't have money like Omaha has got it. "
TG wrote on November 14, 2008 9:04 am:
" Free or reduced parking would greatly help these struggling downtown businesses.

But, I do think State Theatre went awry when they tried the concert/comedian route. I enjoyed going to the movies and having a beer or two. But it became difficult to even know when a movie was showing amongst all of the random acts that came through the door. The owners made the wrong move when the movie and a beer concept was just catching on. "
JB wrote on November 14, 2008 9:19 am:
" I think it could have worked. Needed to advertise more to families. The liquar scared them. More emphasis on food. Could have given away coupon to school kids. "
Joel wrote on November 14, 2008 9:30 am:
" That's sad.

I'll miss the State. Getting to see things like Dr. Strangelove on the big screen, sitting in a comfy couch, and drinking a beer was the way to watch a movie. "
STC wrote on November 14, 2008 9:34 am:
" How about a grocery store downtown instead of another club/movie/whatever?

People that live downtown have zero options for good grocery shopping.. but then again, since that would be efficient, logical and keep some cars off the roads, I can see where that idea would go. "
Bill wrote on November 14, 2008 9:35 am:
" We went there once, and watched a movie and had a couple of drinks. The concept is appealing, but the place was kind of a dive. It smelled like stale beer and mildewed carpet, and I wouldn't have been too surprised to see something crawl out of the "eclectic" sofa. The service was very slow; there was one person working the bar, and as far as I could tell, there was no table service. I had to stand at the bar for about 10 minutes to get a bag of popcorn and a drink to take back to our table. When you're trying to pay attention to the movie without being rude to the person serving you, that feels like a long time. I love second-run movies, and it was nice to be able to sit at a table with my friends and share a snack and have a drink that I didn't have to balance on my lap. The concept is great, but the execution left something to be desired. "
Home Theater wrote on November 14, 2008 9:47 am:
" It's rough for theaters. Big-screen TV, DVD, home theater sound system, the privacy of your own home, park in your own garage, eat your own chow. Sit on your own sofa, or in your own recliner. Use your own clean bathroom, and pause the movie while you go. Sure you don't get first-run films this way, but the DVD of current releases will be out soon enough. What theaters offer is a place for teens and young adults that still live in their parents' homes to escape for a while. "
Marcus wrote on November 14, 2008 9:57 am:
" Clean the place up a bit, for starters. "
Snb wrote on November 14, 2008 10:18 am:
" The drinks were unreasonably priced! "
what wrote on November 14, 2008 10:49 am:
" I worked at the State Theatre when it was just that a 'movie' theatre. Never really drew huge crowds back in the late 80's, unless there was a big movie showing, but I was bummed when it closed. Nothing much has ssemed to succeed there since. I totally agree with some of the others bring it back to a simple single screen 'movie' theatre (or if the $$ is there it could be potentially made in to a two screen theatre.) Make it very similar to the StarShip with very reduced ticket prices, concessions like regular movie theatres (none of the beer and couches, (though a good concept)).
OR
perhaps someone could re-invent a smaller/same but yet different P.O. Pears venue within the space minus the movie screen and projection room etc. (If the original owner doesn't want the name used again call it just Pears, or Pears the second. ;o} ) "
cc wrote on November 14, 2008 11:15 am:
" The concept was good, however you couldn't have paid me to sit on any of those couches. They were disgusting. The whole place seemed dirty and the service was inadequate. "
Sultrydayinne wrote on November 14, 2008 11:58 am:
" I hope someone else is willing to try the concept there. It is a great location there maybe beef up the food offerings or maybe it could have microbrewed beer there. "
idea wrote on November 14, 2008 12:08 pm:
" The only time I went to the theater was when they had the hypnotist come there. That seriously drew a LARGE crowd and it was a ton of fun. I really think that Lincoln needs some type of venue like that. I agree with the idea of it being like the funny bone. Its a great alternative than going to the bars for a good time. Anyone out there with a business venture and the dollars to back it up, think about it! "
Pat wrote on November 14, 2008 12:42 pm:
" Home Theater, not everyone is that lazy. Some people actually like to get out and experience something other than their own home once in a while. Apparently not many in Lincoln. Oh, and I think there are many people other than those who live with their parents who like to get out and go to movies. People in Lincoln want something to do and complain when there's nothing going on, but they need to actually take advantage of these things when available. "
Michael wrote on November 14, 2008 1:14 pm:
" When it opened, I thought, that's interesting. I never went though, because the selection of movies never appealed. I'm sorry to hear it's closing. The reborn State seemed like a nice alternative to marcus/douglas. "
Something to do wrote on November 14, 2008 2:25 pm:
" Downtown needs a bowling alley. That would rule!! Btw, I wish people in Lincoln would quit complaining about parking. Besides football Saturdays, it is always easy to find a space. Lawrence, Kansas doesn't have near the parking that we do downtown, but their downtown has way more shops (local and chain clothing, toy store, science store, department store), restaurants (not just sandwiches), and cool things to do. On a recent Sunday afternoon that I was there, there were more people walking around downtown than lunch hour on a weekday in Lincoln. People in Lincoln want big-box stores and strip malls miles away as long as they can drive to the door and waddle on in. We need to take our downtown back from the barfing college kids and homeless-by-choice dudes. "
two bit wrote on November 14, 2008 2:30 pm:
" my two bits;

has anyone been to Lawerence, Kansas to attend shows at the Granada or the other ex-theater-turned venue? I think the State Theater would be the perfect place for mid-sized venues, the poor-mans alternative to the Rococco perse. BUT... think about the big picture for a minute. Economy is in the dump. Circuit City, DHL, several local businesses, and the entire United States is going bankrupt fast. The common consumer (those who have never run a business and like to tell business owners "you know what you should do?") DON'T understand what is involved in opening, maintaining, and building a business. I think most people, even owners at times, are clearly misguided with "potential" projected revenue/profits rather than looking at the numbers for, let's say, last month where the entire consumer population spent a record low in purchases. Not a good time for business. I think we all need to shop local. That would be a start, but it's clearly not the answer to all our problems. Convenience equates to quality in this culture, so if it's not easy and cheap, it will be an uphill battle for small businesses to survive. capital is everything. parking is too. "
CS wrote on November 14, 2008 2:47 pm:
" I wonder how much was due to lack of patronage from those that think parking should be free, and those that think any new venue that opens in Lincoln has to cater to kids. I'm an adult. I HAVE three kids, but sometimes I want to go somewhere where there are NO kids. The Grand doesn’t cut it, and getting my wife in there on a day she doesn’t work is difficult (she’s an asst. manager) anyway. Its really sad that this idea didn’t take off better than it did-it has succeeded in other locales. As for the Starship, well, the city owned that for over a year before it was demolished. That wasn't Douglas's fault. "
BEEEEERR wrote on November 14, 2008 2:54 pm:
" One time I went there after I got paid and drank so much I passed out and missed the movie. Don't know if beer and movies are a good combo or I just need help, but my cable was shut off at home and I wanted to watch a movie. You always have to wonder about a place that serves beer and then puts you in your car to go home - and that's the theme. All this talk is making me thirsty. "
So Long wrote on November 14, 2008 3:06 pm:
" Sorry to see that this place is closing however I feel they did it to themselves. Shortly prior and after opening our organization contacted the owners about renting the facility for an event. They made the comment that they weren't going to do that because they had a schedule and the worst thing they could do was not have people knowing what was going on. Well during the last six months it has been a crap shoot. You never know when they are going to have a movie or what act will be there...heck they had Montell Jordan a few months back. I didn't appreciate the decision when you made the comment however I realize now that you should have stuck to it and the end result may have been different. Good luck to the next occupant. "
Mike in DC wrote on November 14, 2008 3:12 pm:
" People in Lincoln don't make enough money for the standard model on the coasts. There's plenty of free or cheap parking downtown but people won't walk more than a block; unless their walking the mile from the edge of the parking lot to Walmart for some cheap foreign crap. $10+ theatre tickets and $7 beer are nothing on the coasts because people make 50-100% more. They had to make the State a dive because people wouldn't pay more for a clean place; and they're not moving it to the suburbs because 20,000 college kids are walking distance, and say what you want, although they complain about not having money, they do; many of them have no idea that they have so much expendable income because they don't have a mortgage. They needed to stick with a niche, and as some commenters say, stick with a regular schedule. They should have known. The Rococo's entertainment was awesome and reasonable back when they had the Gong-show type stuff; but even sold-out events and the following couldn't keep it around. "
RJ wrote on November 14, 2008 3:40 pm:
" How sad. Just goes to show how conservative Nebraska is. This refusal to evolve has people leaving. I was one. "
Nebraska isnt Oregon wrote on November 14, 2008 4:22 pm:
" The same things that are cool in Oregon would probably not make it in Nebraska. Laid back doesn't work for the uptight folk of our state "
CS wrote on November 14, 2008 7:08 pm:
" You honestly think just because 'they' make '50-100%' more on the coasts that other costs are similarly inflated? 10.00 for a movie ticket on the coasts is cheap, try 16.00 and up most of the time, with little to no student pricing. As for 'giving you beer and putting you in a car' well, thats the same model all the bars downtown have and they seem to be doing fine. I still think its a combination of rent/location, and laziness on the part of Lincolnites that want to park for free or dare to presume that every locale has to allow kids in it. I don't blame him for starting out not wanting to host events, but I don't know how some of you can pine for the Starship, which was also a dive and also showed 2nd run movies, and was 5 times as large a venue to heat and cool and staff. If it couldn't make it and the State couldn't make it then maybe their failure is more on the part of you and not the business model. You can't say "we want we want" and then not support it when you get what you want, then complain when it's gone. "
Painfully predictable wrote on November 14, 2008 10:55 pm:
" No offense to the owners, I wish them the best. It's just one of those places you knew wouldn't make it. Pessimistic? No, just a realist. Just like the Salad Company near 56th and Pine Lake, eaterys that come and go on Sun Valley Blvd. north of West "O." or other "out there" type joints. It's rare someone is truly surprised. They open, you figure the concept their trying to sell, look at location and past history of said location and say "What made them think this would work?" Quiz question: How long do you think the new business will last that went into the old Gerbert and Eberts on North 14th, or whatever that former place use to be called? "
Get with the times wrote on November 15, 2008 12:00 am:
" People in Lincoln need to get with the times! Movies don't cost THAT much to go to as long as you don't order your entire dinner at the concession stand. The parking is free if you get it validated. Sure its a bit of a distance but you need to walk off those Butterfingers minis anyways. While I'm on the subject of parking: Its only $1/hr with a $6 max! I'm sick of people complaining about parking in the garages downtown. When I live in Chicago you could end up spending $20 to park downtown! "

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