The Bridgeport City Council on Monday unanimously decided to sell city-owned Arcadia Theater after discussing its future in closed session for nearly an hour. BRENDAN MARCHAND | WCMESSENGER
After deliberating the future of the Arcadia Theater for nearly an hour in closed session Monday night, the Bridgeport City Council arrived at a tough decision to sell the city-owned performing arts center.
Before making a motion to sell the property at 1009 Halsell Street, council member Bobby Rodriguez gave insight as to how hard it was for the council to settle on selling the theater.
He noted that one council member said they had never seen the council struggle to make a decision like selling the Arcadia Theater.
“This was a very difficult decision for all of us,” Rodriguez said. “We spent the majority of the time [in closed session talking about this], and it’s something we did agonize over. But we do feel like our decisions have to be in the best interest of the city and the citizens of this city.”
In October, members from Beacon Performing Arts lobbied at a council meeting to have the city lease Arcadia Theater to their organization, with plans to also allow Storytellers Drama Club and the 940 Players to use the facility.
Beacon co-founder Matthew Bird spoke in public comment at Monday’s meeting before the council later decided to ultimately sell the theater.
“We believe the Arcadia Theater should remain a theater,” Bird said. “The theater is too important, both as a piece of the historical fabric of Bridgeport and as a critical component for performing arts groups, to continue bringing arts and culture to a county that has no other venue of its kind, and therefore, no other opportunity.”
Bird outlined his concerns of the city selling to a business other than Beacon, including not knowing someone else’s intent, business plan, effects it would have on other performing arts groups and the impact on tourism and profits for downtown merchants.
Rodriguez ultimately made a motion to authorize city manager Mike Murray and city attorney Rob Allibon to finalize negotiations with RDL Sports Bar, LLC for the sale of the Arcadia Theater.
The decision passed unanimously.
According to public records, the registered agent for RDL Sports Bar is Dilon Jakupi of Rhome.
Jakupi operates several local food and drink establishments, including Dovini Italian Bar & Grill at 1019 Halsell Street in Bridgeport.
Following outcry from several in the theater community after the sale, Beacon Performing Arts shared that concerns that the new owner intends cease theatrical operations are unfounded.
“We spoke with the owner of Dovini’s and 5 Boys, the gentlemen that won the bid for the Arcadia Theater,” the Facebook post said. “He made it clear […] that he has no intentions of making the Arcadia a sports bar or anything other than a theater. He assured us that he will honor the days we already have booked for our upcoming productions, as he doesn’t want to interfere with that. He also told us how much he wants to fully utilize the theater on a regular basis so that Bridgeport has lots of community events to keep children and everyone involved.
“…We are happy to hear his plans and his heart for not just another successful business on Halsell, but for the theater building, and for arts and theatre groups in Wise County.”
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