Bringing back the Rex
- November 17, 2014
- / Louis Cooper
- / community-dashboard
The century-old Rex Theatre in downtown Pensacola is just weeks away from reopening, thanks, in part, to a state preservation grant and the generosity of the members of Harvest Church.
Harvest Church purchased the 1910 structure in 2012 with the intention to renovate it for use by the congregation and community. Greenhut Construction began the work in April 2014.
“We are currently more than 60 percent complete with the project,” said project manager Josh Stewart. “We should have our (certificate of occupancy) by Jan. 15, 2015, and be open to the public the beginning of February with a grand opening for the theater the week of Gallery Night in March.”
[caption id="attachment_9774" align="alignright" width="300"]
Harvest Church is renovating the the Rex Theater as a space for services and community events.[/caption]
Construction cost for the project total about $1.7 million, with $50,000 allocated by the state Legislature this year for repairs to the distinctive Rex sign, marquee and storefront.
“We are absolutely thrilled the state recognizes the historical significance the Rex has to our local community and has chosen to help fund the sign restoration,” Stewart said. “The state saw we are serious about restoring this local historic treasure that's been in danger of becoming a downtown eyesore.”
Harvest Church plans to restore the Rex's 1930’s art deco façade, and renovate the interior to include a 400-seat main theater, a second floor coffee shop and a third floor suite of meeting rooms. Plans to include a rooftop patio were scrapped due to cost.
The Rex, located at 18 N. Palafox, stopped showing movies in 1977 and has been closed to commercial use since 1989. The entire facility will be handicapped-accessible, with an elevator stopping at each floor.
The church plans to use it for services on Saturdays and Sundays and to offer it to the community the rest of the week. Church leaders pledge that the Rex will not be limited to events with religious themes.
“We’re not talking about just doing church at the Rex,” Harvest founding pastor Bobby Lepinay said in a fundraising video posted at http://www.gofundme.com/rexpensacola.
“Our vision is to bring new life into downtown Pensacola with a family-friendly community venue.” Lepinay said. “We’re going to host live music concerts, movies and small-scale theater – events that everyone in the community will be able to enjoy.”
[caption id="attachment_9778" align="alignright" width="223"]
Josh Stewart is managing the renovation of the Rex for Harvest Church.[/caption]
Construction costs are basically covered, Stewart said.
“We really have to give credit to the people who call Harvest home — our members,” he said. “The amazing progress of this project is because of God and them. As a unit, our people have given tens of thousands of dollars this year toward the Rex restoration project.”
The church still needs about $250,000 for furnishings, a theater curtain and audio/video/lighting equipment. In addition to the www.gofundme.com appeal, donations can be made at http://rexpensacola.com.
“I'm not worried, however, this thing is happening, and that's just a fact,” Stewart said.
Harvest Church was founded by Lepinay in 1996. It is a casual, nondenominational church that has always met in movie theaters. It is aimed at people who have otherwise been turned-off by church or may have no church background at all. Initially, it met in the Silver Screen, then the Plaza Theatre and, currently, in the Carmike Bayou 15.
Harvest Church is renovating the the Rex Theater as a space for services and community events.[/caption]
Construction cost for the project total about $1.7 million, with $50,000 allocated by the state Legislature this year for repairs to the distinctive Rex sign, marquee and storefront.
“We are absolutely thrilled the state recognizes the historical significance the Rex has to our local community and has chosen to help fund the sign restoration,” Stewart said. “The state saw we are serious about restoring this local historic treasure that's been in danger of becoming a downtown eyesore.”
Harvest Church plans to restore the Rex's 1930’s art deco façade, and renovate the interior to include a 400-seat main theater, a second floor coffee shop and a third floor suite of meeting rooms. Plans to include a rooftop patio were scrapped due to cost.
The Rex, located at 18 N. Palafox, stopped showing movies in 1977 and has been closed to commercial use since 1989. The entire facility will be handicapped-accessible, with an elevator stopping at each floor.
The church plans to use it for services on Saturdays and Sundays and to offer it to the community the rest of the week. Church leaders pledge that the Rex will not be limited to events with religious themes.
“We’re not talking about just doing church at the Rex,” Harvest founding pastor Bobby Lepinay said in a fundraising video posted at http://www.gofundme.com/rexpensacola.
“Our vision is to bring new life into downtown Pensacola with a family-friendly community venue.” Lepinay said. “We’re going to host live music concerts, movies and small-scale theater – events that everyone in the community will be able to enjoy.”
[caption id="attachment_9778" align="alignright" width="223"]
Josh Stewart is managing the renovation of the Rex for Harvest Church.[/caption]
Construction costs are basically covered, Stewart said.
“We really have to give credit to the people who call Harvest home — our members,” he said. “The amazing progress of this project is because of God and them. As a unit, our people have given tens of thousands of dollars this year toward the Rex restoration project.”
The church still needs about $250,000 for furnishings, a theater curtain and audio/video/lighting equipment. In addition to the www.gofundme.com appeal, donations can be made at http://rexpensacola.com.
“I'm not worried, however, this thing is happening, and that's just a fact,” Stewart said.
Harvest Church was founded by Lepinay in 1996. It is a casual, nondenominational church that has always met in movie theaters. It is aimed at people who have otherwise been turned-off by church or may have no church background at all. Initially, it met in the Silver Screen, then the Plaza Theatre and, currently, in the Carmike Bayou 15.
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