Strand news delights downtown

by Kelly Michaud

ROCKLAND - The community is welcoming the tentative sale of the Strand theater to Rockport summer resident Matthew Simmons.

Simmons has a contract to purchase the historic theater. If the sale goes through, the Strand could reopen by the summer of 2005.

John Frye of Omni Construction said Simmons wants input from community members about programming for the Strand. Simmons plans to return the theater to its original state and offer movies and live performances.

"I love the Strand - I'd love to see it made into an art house theater and hold theme nights and make it a real community booster," said Shane Reilly, assistant manager of Planet Toys on Main Street in Rockland. "It was the best theater around unless you wanted to take a trip to Belfast."

Reilly said he thinks the theater will be a boost for downtown business and for Rockland's night life.

"It will be a good thing to get people into Rockland at night," he said.

Ryan Quigley, a sales associate at Planet Toys, said he thinks the space should operate as a performing arts center.

"It doesn't seem practical if they open as a theater because they will have to compete with Flagship," he said, referring to the 10-theater complex in Thomaston.

B.J. Chamberlain of Second Read Books & Coffee said he sees a lot of potential for the theater.

"It gives us more of a selection for movies and having it on Main Street will be great," Chamberlain said. He said he thinks people would plan to have dinner and a movie more often if the Strand reopens.

"You don't have to drive up to the huge corporate theater, you can just hang out on Main Street," he said. "It gives it the small-town atmosphere again."

Gary Wheeler of Rockland said he used to go to the Strand all the time when it was open.

"It can't be anything but good for the downtown," he said. The downtown has become a more central area over the past few years and the theater will be an added attraction, Wheeler said, adding, "It's what Maine should be."

"I have missed it," said Karen Rackcliff of Owls Head. "It was local and it had an ambiance that was found nowhere else. It's a rarity finding these theaters - they're beautiful.

"The downtown is really doing well and it will increase that and bring a glitter to the night," she said. Rackcliff said she believes the theater will succeed because the community loves it so much.

Robin Phelps of Spruce Head has lived in the area her whole life and always went to the Strand, she said.

"It had a lot of artistic qualities and it's quaint," Phelps said. "The building is architecturally gorgeous Š It's what a small town like Rockland should have."

This article first appeared January 26, 2004 on www.couriergazette.com.