PEORIA, Ill. — An effort to restore the historic Madison Theater in downtown Peoria is taking shape.
Plans to reopen the theater, built in 1920, would be part of a larger project that would relocate the Two25 restaurant, which closed earlier this year, from the Mark Twain Hotel to the Madison Theater Building.
The Madison Preservation Association’s Eric Heard said a retail purchase agreement for $1.3 million should be finalized by the end of the 2021.
The Comfort family, which owns the Madison Theater Building, would donate the theater portion to the not-for-profit organization.
Heard told WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” the 1,600-seat theater would have several uses.
“Concerts, a movie house, anything arts-related,” Heard said.
Though a majority of the renovations of the Madison Theater would be funded by federal and state historic tax credits, additional money will need to be raised to complete them.
To give the public a look at plans for the theater, the Madison Preservation Association will be giving tours on August 19 and 28.
“There’s a lot to be done. But, anyone that comes to the open house can see what it (the theater) can become,” Heard said.
To RSVP, call (309) 431-1612 or email infoTheMadisonTheaterPeoria.org.
