Hi Ron, Shaun and I have already shared the wonderful knowledge, memories, memorabilia and input once again that you shared with us a couple years ago with John, we definitely intend to get you involved. The whole project is coming together rapidly and we’ll be able to share the progress in the near future as it becomes more clear.
GREAT NEWS FOR THE D&R THEATRE !
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE. WE HAD JUST ABOUT THROWN IN THE TOWEL ON TRYING TO SAVE THIS GREAT THEATRE AND THEN JOHN YONICH CONTACTED US A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THE WEB SITE IS BACK UP AND THERE IS REAL HOPE TO PUT THE D&R BACK TOGETHER ONCE AND FOR ALL. THANK YOU JOHN !!!!!
DAILY WORLD ARTICLE 06/12/2007
A former Harborite and major investor in the currently-stalled Morck Hotel restoration project has purchased the landmark D&R Theater in downtown Aberdeen.
John Yonich, president of Holley Moulding Inc. in Bellevue, bought the theater property for an undisclosed amount and is looking into the financial feasibility of restoring it.
City of Aberdeen staff members are researching federal grant opportunities that could provide money to restore the theater, located at 207 South I St.
“The building’s fine; just the insides are beat up,†said Yonich, a 1972 graduate of Aberdeen High School. “If the money’s out there, why not? If it isn’t, no thanks.â€
Yonich, who remembers going to movies at the D&R as a kid, said he’s just in the initial stages of learning about the theater. He’s been told it would take at least $1.5 million to restore the 83-year-old building. It needs a new stage, lighting, electrical work, box office and a paint job.
The 24,720-square-foot building and the land is owned by Leo Brutsche of Auburn. According to the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office, the property is valued at $214,500, but the building had no assessed value.
The focus for the Bellevue businessman right now, however, is getting the Morck Hotel project going again. Work on the circa-1924 building just a few blocks from the theater stalled earlier this year because of a dispute between Yonich and Oregon developer Chester Trabucco.
The partners disagree on the grand plan for the “four-star†destination hotel, estimated to cost $12 million to $13 million to complete.
Yonich said Trabucco’s vision for a luxury boutique hotel in downtown Aberdeen didn’t make good financial sense and pulled his financial backing. Trabucco said the project relies on a “build it and they will come theory.†His view is that the best way to ensure success is to make the project “absolutely first class.â€
Yonich offered to take over the hotel project and let Trabucco develop the surrounding property. Trabucco rejected that deal and started trying to find other investors for his plan.
On Monday, Yonich said he again made the same offer to Trabucco and he hoped to have a signed agreement this week. If an agreement isn’t reached, Yonich said he intends to take legal action to dissolve the partnership and have Trabucco removed from the project.
Trabucco said Monday that if a final outcome isn’t reached this week, it will be resolved by the end of the month.
“There’s no question if we had the hotel, what a great tie-in†the theater would be, Yonich said, noting that the restored Liberty Theatre in Astoria, Ore., greatly complements the Hotel Elliott that Trabucco restored. “I’ll give Chester credit (with the Liberty),†he said. “That is impressive.â€
It cost $8 million to restore the Liberty, a 700-seat former vaudeville theater that now hosts concerts, plays, music festivals and other events.
The D&R Theater was built in 1924 by businessmen Ed Dolan and William Ripley â€" The D and the R.
Four years later, Dolan teamed with businessman O.T. Taylor to build the magnificent 7th St. Theatre in Hoquiam.
The D&R was converted to a movie theater in the mid-1940s. It closed as a movie house in 1982, then hosted sporadic events throughout the 1980s.
Harborites Dave TerBush and Shaun O’Neal tried to buy the D&R Theater in 2005 and created a non-profit organization â€" Harbor Arts Foundation â€" to purchase, restore and organize programs and shows for the theater. But they weren’t able to get enough donations to purchase the building and the organization has since been inactive, said TerBush, the foundation’s president and executive business director.
“I think it’s fantastic at this time that someone like John’s taking interest in it and purchased it and does have some resources to make it into the premier theater it once was,†TerBush said. “It’s a wonderful thing. …We had our dream and it just kind of fizzled out. Hopefully the timing will work out.â€
TerBush and O’Neal did a lot of research on the history of the theater and said they’d share everything they know with Yonich. They’ve had some “preliminary†talks with Yonich, and TerBush said he hopes the foundation can have a role in the restoration.
“We’ve always been 100 percent behind the Morck project, but my personal feeling has always been that I don’t go to a town to stay in a hotel. I go to a town to go to an event,†TerBush said. “We always felt a restored Morck and something like a restored D&R would play so well together. People would come to town for big entertainment.
“If you bring entertainment for people to see, they’re going to come to it,†he added. “I hope they would support both the hotel and theater. I do believe the area’s ripe for that kind of step.â€
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST! TO MAKE A DONATION… please log on to our website: www.harborartsfoundation.org and click on “DONATIONS”. You will be able to print a mail-in donation form. In response to your donation, we will mail you a receipt with our Federal EIN/tax exempt number and all other information your bean counter needs. You are encouraged to call or e-mail us if you have any other questions.
Hi All, The original theater organ was up for auction on E-Bay, but didn’t sell. We were fortunate enough to find the individual who owns it and have made arrangements to purchase it for the D&R rebuild. It won’t be part of the working theater, but will be part of the museum items located in the lobby area. Also, pictures are available at www.harborartsfoundation.org click on one of the picture links. Ron, it was a pleasure to meet you and show the theater. We look forward to seeing you again. Others who would like to tour the D&R can contact us through the web site e-mail. Thanks Again
We’re amazed at the wonderful history lesson of the D&R you are providing. The Harbor Arts Foundation will be posting several upcoming meetings and events on the web site soon, www.harborartsfoundation.org and invite all with stories and interest in the restoration of the theater to please attend.
Dave TerBush can be reached at
Shaun O'Neal can be reached at
Harbor Arts new web site is www.harborartsfoundation.org . This site will help keep everybody up to date on the restoration of the D & R theater. Remember, the vertical stripes and art deco ticket booth were part of the theater’s redesign of the 1940’s. We are interested in bringing it back to the original style of the 1920’s so the horizontal stripes, signage and built-in ticket booth will be part of the new rebuild. As mentioned, we will be incorporating a museum within the theater to place items honoring the D & R’s past. Please don’t hesitate contacting us if you would like to be part of this project.
We’re glad to see so much excitement for the renovation of the theater and the birth of the program. Harbor Arts is still in a little shock that we were able to acquire the D & R Theater before something bad happened. Knock on wood. Yes, movies will be part of the program. The immediate and main emphasis will be geared towards live plays, concerts and entertainment. Please don’t hesitate to mail or call with your contact information as we will gladly keep you up to date on our progress. The web-site and e-mail address will be posted in the near future. In the meantime, correspondence and donations may be sent to: Harbor Arts Foundation, P O Box 896, Aberdeen, Wa 98520. Our new phone number/message center as of 09/15/2005 is 360-537-1130. Thanking you all in advance for your support.
Great News, The newly formed “Harbor Arts Foundation”, a non- profit organization, has agreed to purchase the D & R Theater and renovate it back to it’s 1920’s style. An aggressive fund raising, grant and sponsorship campaign will begin shortly. Our goal is to make the D & R the gem of Aberdeen as it deserves. The theater and foundation will highlight professional & local talent and encourage private and community events in the harbor. The theater will house the Harbor Arts Academy in the front ten office spaces as well as a coffee house in the lobby area and a theater museum- gift shop to make the D & R a daily experience. Target date to re-open the theater in grand style is mid to late 2007. As this project progresses we will be posting contact information for anybody who would like to be part of this monumental task. Local artists, teachers, business owners, etc. interested in participating in the performing arts academy are encouraged to contact us as well.
Hi Ron, Shaun and I have already shared the wonderful knowledge, memories, memorabilia and input once again that you shared with us a couple years ago with John, we definitely intend to get you involved. The whole project is coming together rapidly and we’ll be able to share the progress in the near future as it becomes more clear.
GREAT NEWS FOR THE D&R THEATRE !
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE. WE HAD JUST ABOUT THROWN IN THE TOWEL ON TRYING TO SAVE THIS GREAT THEATRE AND THEN JOHN YONICH CONTACTED US A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THE WEB SITE IS BACK UP AND THERE IS REAL HOPE TO PUT THE D&R BACK TOGETHER ONCE AND FOR ALL. THANK YOU JOHN !!!!!
DAILY WORLD ARTICLE 06/12/2007
A former Harborite and major investor in the currently-stalled Morck Hotel restoration project has purchased the landmark D&R Theater in downtown Aberdeen.
John Yonich, president of Holley Moulding Inc. in Bellevue, bought the theater property for an undisclosed amount and is looking into the financial feasibility of restoring it.
City of Aberdeen staff members are researching federal grant opportunities that could provide money to restore the theater, located at 207 South I St.
“The building’s fine; just the insides are beat up,†said Yonich, a 1972 graduate of Aberdeen High School. “If the money’s out there, why not? If it isn’t, no thanks.â€
Yonich, who remembers going to movies at the D&R as a kid, said he’s just in the initial stages of learning about the theater. He’s been told it would take at least $1.5 million to restore the 83-year-old building. It needs a new stage, lighting, electrical work, box office and a paint job.
The 24,720-square-foot building and the land is owned by Leo Brutsche of Auburn. According to the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office, the property is valued at $214,500, but the building had no assessed value.
The focus for the Bellevue businessman right now, however, is getting the Morck Hotel project going again. Work on the circa-1924 building just a few blocks from the theater stalled earlier this year because of a dispute between Yonich and Oregon developer Chester Trabucco.
The partners disagree on the grand plan for the “four-star†destination hotel, estimated to cost $12 million to $13 million to complete.
Yonich said Trabucco’s vision for a luxury boutique hotel in downtown Aberdeen didn’t make good financial sense and pulled his financial backing. Trabucco said the project relies on a “build it and they will come theory.†His view is that the best way to ensure success is to make the project “absolutely first class.â€
Yonich offered to take over the hotel project and let Trabucco develop the surrounding property. Trabucco rejected that deal and started trying to find other investors for his plan.
On Monday, Yonich said he again made the same offer to Trabucco and he hoped to have a signed agreement this week. If an agreement isn’t reached, Yonich said he intends to take legal action to dissolve the partnership and have Trabucco removed from the project.
Trabucco said Monday that if a final outcome isn’t reached this week, it will be resolved by the end of the month.
“There’s no question if we had the hotel, what a great tie-in†the theater would be, Yonich said, noting that the restored Liberty Theatre in Astoria, Ore., greatly complements the Hotel Elliott that Trabucco restored. “I’ll give Chester credit (with the Liberty),†he said. “That is impressive.â€
It cost $8 million to restore the Liberty, a 700-seat former vaudeville theater that now hosts concerts, plays, music festivals and other events.
The D&R Theater was built in 1924 by businessmen Ed Dolan and William Ripley â€" The D and the R.
Four years later, Dolan teamed with businessman O.T. Taylor to build the magnificent 7th St. Theatre in Hoquiam.
The D&R was converted to a movie theater in the mid-1940s. It closed as a movie house in 1982, then hosted sporadic events throughout the 1980s.
Harborites Dave TerBush and Shaun O’Neal tried to buy the D&R Theater in 2005 and created a non-profit organization â€" Harbor Arts Foundation â€" to purchase, restore and organize programs and shows for the theater. But they weren’t able to get enough donations to purchase the building and the organization has since been inactive, said TerBush, the foundation’s president and executive business director.
“I think it’s fantastic at this time that someone like John’s taking interest in it and purchased it and does have some resources to make it into the premier theater it once was,†TerBush said. “It’s a wonderful thing. …We had our dream and it just kind of fizzled out. Hopefully the timing will work out.â€
TerBush and O’Neal did a lot of research on the history of the theater and said they’d share everything they know with Yonich. They’ve had some “preliminary†talks with Yonich, and TerBush said he hopes the foundation can have a role in the restoration.
“We’ve always been 100 percent behind the Morck project, but my personal feeling has always been that I don’t go to a town to stay in a hotel. I go to a town to go to an event,†TerBush said. “We always felt a restored Morck and something like a restored D&R would play so well together. People would come to town for big entertainment.
“If you bring entertainment for people to see, they’re going to come to it,†he added. “I hope they would support both the hotel and theater. I do believe the area’s ripe for that kind of step.â€
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST! TO MAKE A DONATION… please log on to our website: www.harborartsfoundation.org and click on “DONATIONS”. You will be able to print a mail-in donation form. In response to your donation, we will mail you a receipt with our Federal EIN/tax exempt number and all other information your bean counter needs. You are encouraged to call or e-mail us if you have any other questions.
BIG, BIG NEWS !!!!! AS OF TODAYS U. S. MAIL DELIVERY THE HARBOR ARTS FOUNDATION IS OFFICIALLY A 501©3 TAX EXEMPT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND CAN NOW ACCEPT DONATIONS AND APPLY FOR GRANTS. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE REBUILD THE D&R THEATRE.
Hi All, Sorry for not updating you sooner, we have had a lot of activity and news recently both good and bad. The Foundation nonprofit status is pending approval by the IRS at this time and we have been informed that could take up to another 60 days as they’re running behind. This is holding up the final purchase of the theater as the seller wants to make sure we are a 501©3 organization before financing. We have very recently been offered the option of purchasing the D&R at a lesser price than originally negotiated if no owner financing is involved. If this could be accomplished it would be the best route by far. The architects are working on updating the blueprints and drawings. This will allow us to include new restrooms, coffee house, beverage & food service areas, art gallery extension and dinner theater accomodations on the balony level. We did have a problem acquiring the organ. The seller and I got our signals mixed as far as his timetable. Just as we found a patron to purchase it the seller again listed it on Ebay without notifying the Foundation. When contacted he apologized and felt it wouldn’t sell as he was asking almost twice as much as he had in the past. It sold ! We’ll focus our efforts on all the many artifacts we already have that folks like Ron Carlson have donated so generously. The main goal at this time is to try and purchase the theater ASAP and not have to wait for the IRS and owner financing. After the holidays we will be posting information on the web site regarding fundraising events starting early 2006. We have also posted pages with mission statement, goals, economic impact and the all important sponsorship page on the Harbor Arts, www.harborartsfoundation.org, web site. Please feel free to contact us via e-mail or phone if anyone would like to partner with us in the financing and/or purchase of the theater. This is the immediate task at hand. As soon as the theater changes hands from present ownership to the foundation we can open the flood gates to the literally hundreds of volunteers and organizations that have expressed interest in donating their time and services. Thank you all for your postings, memories and intense interest in this project. We need your help and together we can make this dream happen! Have a Happy Holiday Season.
Hi All, The original theater organ was up for auction on E-Bay, but didn’t sell. We were fortunate enough to find the individual who owns it and have made arrangements to purchase it for the D&R rebuild. It won’t be part of the working theater, but will be part of the museum items located in the lobby area. Also, pictures are available at www.harborartsfoundation.org click on one of the picture links. Ron, it was a pleasure to meet you and show the theater. We look forward to seeing you again. Others who would like to tour the D&R can contact us through the web site e-mail. Thanks Again
We’re amazed at the wonderful history lesson of the D&R you are providing. The Harbor Arts Foundation will be posting several upcoming meetings and events on the web site soon, www.harborartsfoundation.org and invite all with stories and interest in the restoration of the theater to please attend.
Dave TerBush can be reached at
Shaun O'Neal can be reached at
Harbor Arts new web site is www.harborartsfoundation.org . This site will help keep everybody up to date on the restoration of the D & R theater. Remember, the vertical stripes and art deco ticket booth were part of the theater’s redesign of the 1940’s. We are interested in bringing it back to the original style of the 1920’s so the horizontal stripes, signage and built-in ticket booth will be part of the new rebuild. As mentioned, we will be incorporating a museum within the theater to place items honoring the D & R’s past. Please don’t hesitate contacting us if you would like to be part of this project.
We’re glad to see so much excitement for the renovation of the theater and the birth of the program. Harbor Arts is still in a little shock that we were able to acquire the D & R Theater before something bad happened. Knock on wood. Yes, movies will be part of the program. The immediate and main emphasis will be geared towards live plays, concerts and entertainment. Please don’t hesitate to mail or call with your contact information as we will gladly keep you up to date on our progress. The web-site and e-mail address will be posted in the near future. In the meantime, correspondence and donations may be sent to: Harbor Arts Foundation, P O Box 896, Aberdeen, Wa 98520. Our new phone number/message center as of 09/15/2005 is 360-537-1130. Thanking you all in advance for your support.
Great News, The newly formed “Harbor Arts Foundation”, a non- profit organization, has agreed to purchase the D & R Theater and renovate it back to it’s 1920’s style. An aggressive fund raising, grant and sponsorship campaign will begin shortly. Our goal is to make the D & R the gem of Aberdeen as it deserves. The theater and foundation will highlight professional & local talent and encourage private and community events in the harbor. The theater will house the Harbor Arts Academy in the front ten office spaces as well as a coffee house in the lobby area and a theater museum- gift shop to make the D & R a daily experience. Target date to re-open the theater in grand style is mid to late 2007. As this project progresses we will be posting contact information for anybody who would like to be part of this monumental task. Local artists, teachers, business owners, etc. interested in participating in the performing arts academy are encouraged to contact us as well.