Demolition is underway at the former Storyville Cinema in Salida, Colorado, paving the way for The Sundry, a 20,000-square-foot multi-use venue designed to revitalize the community’s arts and entertainment scene.
Plans for the building at 135 W. First St. include a near-three-story construction project blending new builds with historic elements, aiming to fill a void left when the original cinema closed its doors in 2018.
Dillon Gross, director of operations for The Sundry, emphasized the importance of bringing back a dedicated movie space, stating, “Bringing that back, making sure we had a dedicated space for movies where we can kind of have that continuously operating and showing things, that was a big priority.”
Acoustic Excellence and Community Focus
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The heart of the new construction will be a main venue designed by an acoustic engineer, featuring a U-shaped balcony and a dance floor intended to host a diverse range of live music acts. “If you’re gonna build a room for music, we want to build it to be an incredible sounding space,” Gross said. “It’s designed by an acoustic engineer to sound fantastic inside.”
Soundproofing is also a key consideration, with plans to minimize disruption to nearby residents.
The venue will accommodate approximately 600 people, making it one of the larger performance spaces in the mountain region. In addition to live music, the space will host community events and film screenings. Upstairs, a separate, smaller theater will seat between 50 and 75 patrons, offering both new releases and classic films, with plans to serve beer and alcohol in the concessions area.
A restaurant and bar are planned near the First Street entrance, though the specific design remains under development.
The Sundry will also include a green room and changing facilities for performers, considered essential for attracting high-profile acts.
A three-level rooftop patio, offering 360-degree panoramic views, is expected to be a popular feature.
From Salvaged Brick to Structural Challenges
Co-owner Nathan Young purchased the property in 2022 and initially undertook renovations independently before Gross joined the project approximately 1.5 years ago.
While the building’s front facade and at least one salvaged brick wall date back to 1900, it wasn’t officially designated as a historic structure, which initially complicated funding applications. A state revitalization grant proved unattainable when it became restricted to nonprofit organizations, a status The Sundry hadn’t yet secured. “We didn’t do that before we applied for the grant because we didn’t know that we had to,” Gross explained.
Demolition revealed both anticipated and unexpected structural issues, including significant water damage and a deteriorating ceiling above the theater spaces. The ceiling, it turned out, was largely supported by old metal conduit and was at risk of collapse with each snowfall.
The team has been diligently salvaging materials from the original structure, including “ghost windows” and 125-year-old floor joists personally removed by Gross.
Timeline and Future Outlook
The project’s completion timeline is dependent on weather conditions allowing for foundation concrete pouring. Once construction goes vertical, Gross anticipates a completion timeframe of “somewhere in the realm of 10 to 12 months.”
“We’re looking at the best case scenario, end of next year,” Gross said, adding that the “worst-case scenario being early 2027.”
The project team is collaborating with city and county officials to ensure a smooth construction process in the downtown area. They are also developing a marquee design inspired by historical signage from Salida.
So far, neighbors have been supportive and enthusiastic about the project.
Additional demolition work remains, but Gross intends to wait for more favorable weather conditions. Salida native Carey Hallett has been secured as the production manager.
Gross, a father of four, expressed his excitement about bringing a movie theater and a vibrant community space for the arts back to Salida, as well as providing a safe gathering place for young people. The team also plans to recreate the marquee style from the former Unique Theater next door. “We’ll start working on that kind of front facade soon… so we can kind of display a little bit more of what the aesthetic will feel like, and I’m really excited to – sometime early next year – show people what that marquee concept is going to look like,” Gross said.
