Government

Officials: Bow Tie Cinemas Interested in Restoring, Possibly Purchasing New Canaan Playhouse

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The movie theater company that leases the Playhouse building from the town is interested in putting money into the aging brick structure and possibly owning it, New Canaan’s highest elected official said Tuesday. Bow Tie Cinemas has “a very, very long-term lease and they have expressed no interest in getting out,” according to First Selectman Rob Mallozzi. “They are a very happy movie theater,” he said at a regular Board of Selectmen meeting, held at Town Hall. “They like the vibe, they like the business model. They have 143 theaters nationwide and are very prideful to be in New Canaan.

News

First Selectman: New Canaan Likely Will No Longer Own Playhouse in 18 Months

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With the movie theater’s operator and a group of locals interested in purchasing the building, New Canaan likely will not own the Playhouse on Elm Street 18 months from now, the town’s highest elected official said Wednesday. The town “would rather not be in the movie theater business, would rather not own that building,” First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said during an annual breakfast hosted by the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, held this year at South End New Canaan. “There is interest from not only the group that runs the movie theater, Bow Tie Cinemas—they have talked to us. Local folks have talked to us. I think there is a really good possibility that that will not be in the town hands within the next year-and-a-half.

Government

‘There’s a Fine Line Between Charming and Outdated’: Playhouse Committee Convenes First Meeting

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Town residents should be polled on a range of options for future operations of the New Canaan Playhouse, where details such as costs to maintain or more substantially repair the aging structure are spelled out in detail, officials say. During their first meeting, members of the New Canaan Playhouse Committee on Tuesday said the town may opt to keep up the 1923-built structure as-is, mending it as needed, raising rent, cutting costs and operating at a loss, or else going to market to find a private owner interested in getting into the movie business, or even partnering with a newly created nonprofit organization that may run it as a more diversified entertainment venue. It’s important to find out just what those options would mean for New Canaan property owners, committee member Neil Budnick said during the meeting, held at Town Hall. “Our job is always to minimize debt and taxpayer cost,” he said. The best way to accomplish that may be through what committee members called a “white knight” scenario, whereby a generous supporter simply offers to give money to support the Playhouse.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Ty Groff winning Connecticut region punt pass kick 2015 for 10-11 age group

Oct 3,2015

 

Congratulations to New Canaan’s Ty Groff on winning the Connecticut “Punt, Pass & Kick” contest’s 10- and 11-year-old age group. You can see Ty’s effort in the video above. In the NFL’s “PPK,” scores take into consideration distance as well as accuracy, so under the rules, how far the ball travels is calculated and then distance from the center line is subtracted. Ty threw 93 feet, punted 61 and kicked 65 and 5 inches, for a total of 219 feet and 5 inches. ***

Officials with Bank of America confirmed for us that their lease on the brick building on the corner of Locust Avenue and Forest Street expired on Sept.

Around Town

Editor: We Got An Office

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After working remotely around New Canaan for more than 18 months since launching this news site, NewCanaanite.com this week is taking an office in the heart of the downtown. We will be at 140 Elm St., roughly above Jack Wills, starting Oct. 1. We’re looking forward to having a place to meet interviewees and business partners, a place (other than the living room or car) to keep our files, swag and equipment, and a ready spot right in New Canaan to file stories. One of the great advantages to working remotely these many months has been discovering some favorite places around town to work—public buildings and private businesses that offer warmth and AC, comfort and great WiFi.