When David McNeil moved from his hometown of Portland, Ore., to the San Francisco area a few years ago, he was surprised not to find second-run “theater pubs” like those that were so successful in Portland.

So he and his wife, Takako, decided they’d try to open one.

That venture never got off the ground in California, but their resolve wasn’t dampened.

They moved back to Portland a year ago, intent on making the concept, which involves showing second-run movies in a dinner-type setting with gourmet appetizers and drinks, a reality.

“We were just kind of looking all over for the right movie theater to do this in,” David McNeil said.

One of the first theaters they came across was the vacant State Theater in downtown Lincoln.

McNeil had several phone conversations with Downtown Lincoln Association President Polly McMullen, but he ultimately decided he couldn’t compete in downtown with the Star Ship 9.

Then late last year came news the Star Ship was closing and would be demolished for a downtown redevelopment project.

“I figured that must have been a sign that we should do a theater (in Lincoln),” McNeil said.

A few months later, the McNeils signed a lease with the State’s owners, Speedway Properties, and moved to a condo in downtown Lincoln.

They’re renovating the theater and hope to have it open by the end of April or early May.

McNeil said getting the building in working order, repairing the signs and marquee, and installing seating and theater equipment will be the main work done before opening. 

After that, he said, the couple will look for ways to continue to remodel and restore the theater to its original design.

Also, because the traditional theater stadium seating was removed by previous non-theater tenants, the McNeils will install loveseats, tables and chairs.

The nearby University of Nebraska-Lincoln helped draw McNeil and his wife to Lincoln and the State Theatre.

They  hope to draw students, but they also plan to cater to all audiences, from seniors to families with small children.

The State, 1415 O St.,  has a long history in Lincoln, operating as a theater for more than 50 years before closing in 1992.

Then it was occupied by various businesses — including several failed nightclubs — before sitting vacant for more than a year.

Some people have assumed McNeil is opening another nightclub. They’ve been pleasantly surprised by his plans, he said.

“I get the feeling people really care about that location,” he said.

McMullen said the McNeils’ theater will “change the character somewhat” on a block mostly populated by bars and restaurants.

“It just makes it more of an experience and just more reason to come downtown (to a movie) rather than rent a DVD,” McMullen said.

McNeil is projecting the theater will draw 50,000 to 80,000 a year downtown, based on experiences of theaters in the Portland area.

Most of those people, he said, are likely to do other things downtown besides just taking in a movie, leading to a spillover effect for nearby business.

“Having (the theater) be empty is an unfortunate thing on our main street in downtown,” McMullen said. “So it’s just all around a good thing.”

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.