St. Pete Beach Theatre Moving to Non-Profit Status

The in St. Pete Beach is making moves to become a non-profit organization.

The Beach Theatre has been open for 70 years and is one of the longer standing theaters in the Tampa Bay area.

Current owner Mike France has recently put up a website, www.savethebeachtheatre.org that clearly explains the plight the Beach Theatre is currently undergoing.

“Circumstances have arisen that will likely force me into closing the theatre and putting it up for sale. I really, really don’t want to do this. After 70 years, I don’t want to be the guy who turns out the lights on the Beach Theatre,” France said on the site.

In order to keep the Beach Theatre open, the theater has to make a move to non-profit, France said. This would allow the theater to be eligible for more opportunities of fundraising that could be used to make necessary repairs to the theater.

Though moving to non-profit, France is committed to keeping the eclectic and diverse programming that the Beach Theatre is known for.

“Most single screen historic theatres in the country are already run as non-profits (like the Tampa Theatre) -- it’s time for the Beach Theatre to join that club,” France said.

People who are  looking for ways to help the Beach Theatre in its transition are asked to e-mail savethebeachtheatrenow@gmail.com.