ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Who remembers The Dollar Show Theatre? It stood at the corner of Allen Road and Philomene Blvd for decades until it closed its doors in 2019.
The City of Allen Park purchased the theatre from its owners, MJR Theatres, for $1 and tore it down soon after.
It was a place where many memories were made, and many were sad to see the theatre go. Years later, the land remains an empty lot.
There had been proposals for the space to be turned into a mixed-use building that would include housing units with retail space down below.
But once the pandemic happened, those proposals disappeared.
Local 4 spoke with city leaders about their plan for the lot and learned that despite the hangup, something was in the works.
“Nothing moves fast, and I apologize as things change, funding changes, we have to adapt,” said interim city manager Tom Murray.
You may remember the city had released renderings and a plan for building an amphitheater where people could enjoy the space, which connects two main stretches of town.
That may not be what ends up in place of the old theatre either.
Allen Park has applied for American Rescue Fund Act dollars from Wayne County.
A couple of months ago, in August, Murray says they were out surveying the land in review of the request.
They’re still waiting to see what funding may be approved, which will ultimately determine what is built in the space.
The idea of making it a gathering place remains. In the warmer months, concerts were held in the area, and benches were placed for people to enjoy the outdoors.
City leaders say they’ll soon contact residents to learn their wishes for the space.