7/28/2006: Press Release - Bones Theatre Ceremonial Ground Breaking

Bones Theatre is a state of the art, professionally designed, and soon to be locally built movie theater that will be open to the public in early 2007.  The theatre will show first run movies, seat almost 500 patrons in 4 different auditoriums and will eventually add 2 more screens in either 2008 or 2009.

Chris Jones and Tim DuVall are the developers responsible for bringing a movie theater to Columbia City.  Since 2002, Jones and DuVall have performed the market analysis and worked on the general design with Paradigm Design, Inc. out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  During that time they also raised private investment monies locally and abroad, while securing additional financial assistance from 1^st Source Bank and the Small Business Administration.  The selection of a local contractor, W. J. Carey Construction, was made within the last month to build Bones Theatre.  Finally, Bright Star Systems Corporation of Minneapolis, MN, was awarded the contract for installation of all the concession, sound, and projection equipment.

“It took us a long time to get to this day.  The residents of Columbia City and the nearby towns and lake communities have waited for over 40 years for someone to bring movies back to this area and we wanted to do it right.  Some of our investors have been with us since November of 2002 and no one is happier than them to see construction start”.  Except maybe Jones and DuVall.  It took them over 4 years to develop the project from concept to date.   

Columbia City has not had an operating movie theater since the mid 1960’s. 

“We received a lot of support from city officials.  Dave Sewell, the City Council members, Pat Hatcher of the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Jim Fleck have all been supportive of our efforts.  The Post and Mail has also helped us to keep the community informed of our progress over the past 3 years.  Additionally, Don Armstrong was very receptive to our locating the movie theater within Armstrong Park.  Tim and I feel we have selected the best possible location within Columbia City to build Bones Theatre.”

“Many people ask us why the name “Bones Theatre”?  The name of the theater is from a nickname Jones had while in college, “Bones”.  It was also the working title on the business plan during the first round of bank interviews.  “Our first bank interviewer commented on how much she liked the name, so it stuck.  We forgot to change the name…but her reaction was so positive that we decided to leave it.”

Bones Theatre will soon be listing its advertising and corporate outing packages on the web.  Details can be obtained about advertising within Bones Theatre or holding a corporate outing by consulting the website.

Employment applications and interviews will start to be accepted in November.  The theater is expected to employ 2-3 full time positions and 10-15 part time positions.