Revitalization of two historical buildings in Atmore, Alabama, are breathing new life into downtown
The revitalization of Encore and the Strand Theater in downtown Atmore goes beyond renovating two historic buildings. (Allanah Taylor / Alabama News Center).
A project many years in the making that goes beyond just renovating two historic buildings in the heart of Atmore, Encore and the Strand Theater, has become a location for arts, community gatherings, live entertainment and much more.
This project was no small feat made more difficult when the original $2.8 million renovation estimate raised by March 2020 quickly doubled to a $5.2 million final cost after the pandemic, hurricanes of 2020 and soaring costs of materials and labor.
“When we originally started this project, the interest rates were 3.25 percent and when we got ready for construction after COVID it was at 9 percent,” said Dale Ash, volunteer grant writer and fundraiser for Pride of Atmore.
Formerly a hardware store, Encore at the Strand is home to an event space, computer lab, recording studio and more. (Allanah Taylor / Alabama News Center)
Filling the gap in a community with not a lot of opportunity for school-aged kids and those who love the arts, Pride of Atmore is a nonprofit group of locals that came together to support economic revitalization and preservation of downtown Atmore using arts and culture, such as the Strand Theatre and Encore.
“We are filling the gaps that are not currently being offered in local schools and the community,” Ash said. “The school district cut arts in 2013 and at the time we started this project there were no affordable event venues in Atmore.”
Despite the pandemic and hurricanes Sally and Zada pushing their timeline back and doubling their costs, a lot of moving parts came together to make what Encore and the Strand Theater is today.
“A little community to be able to raise this much money is incredible,” said Forest Kizer, Pride of Atmore member. “The community stepped up to the plate.”
Behind the project
What jump-started this large-scale revitalizing project?
Two members of the Pride of Atmore, Forest Kizer and Bub Gideons, went to a conference in Tuskegee after learning about the Placemaking Grant.
One of the presenters was Zach Manheimer, who consulted for an organization at the time that helped write master plans for redevelopment. The Pride of Atmore asked if Manheimer would be willing to help if they were to receive the Placemaking Grant.
In the process, they surveyed more than 500 people in Atmore, including students at the local high school. They asked community members what they would like to see in Atmore that they had to go out of town (to Mobile or Pensacola, Florida) to do and/or get.
Members of Pride of Atmore were surprised when an overwhelming answer from high school students was a recording studio.
This is how a fully equipped recording studio came to life.
Officially completed May 31, community members can rent the recording studio to create music, podcasts, etc. The high-tech system and instruments were purchased from Sweetwater Sound Inc. and the studio was developed alongside Ben Jernigan, musician and producer from Mobile.
Fundraising
Fundraising played a crucial role in the renovation of these historic buildings.
The community came together to help with generous contributions through events, in-kind donations such as the custom-built bar in Encore, and the support of hundreds of donors that made it possible to preserve and restore these Atmore buildings.
“I was introduced to this project at the tail-end of it, but having heard the success story. Pride of Atmore did a very good job at sharing their vision with the community, influential people, and companies,” said Tripp Ward, community relations manager at Alabama Power. “You have to have the right people at the table.”
The Alabama Power Foundation donated to the project as it was getting off the ground in 2019.
Support also came from elected officials, local and statewide, including Bradley Burn, Joe Bonner, Gerry Carl, Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, some of whom have even walked through the space throughout the building progress.
The 158 Strand Theater seats were also sponsored for $500 each, with plaques naming the contributors on the seat backs.
The future of these historic buildings
Today, Encore at the Strand is a cultural hub for the community.
The vision of these buildings goes beyond simply showcasing movies, and the Pride of Atmore is striving to create an environment of equity, inclusion and diversity that promotes the arts in all forms.
The nonprofit is committed to bringing inspiration and entertainment to the community.
Encore is home to an artist residency, hospitality room, recording studio, a computer lab open to the community as well as two rental event spaces.
Events like bingo, murder mystery, karaoke nights and live performances from local Alabama artists take place at Encore, and the Strand Theater is a place for movie nights, local theater and performances.
“These community events pull in a diversity of ages and ethnicity from the community,” Kizer said.
Now, downtown Atmore is a Main Street Community as well as an entertainment district that launched on June 1. More than five local establishments came together to allow patrons to walk around downtown Atmore with liquor purchased at the bars or restaurants.
Encore and the Strand Theater have been catalysts in revitalizing Atmore and the community as a whole.
