Group Rallies for Ioka Purchase Bid

A group trying to buy the historic Ioka building in downtown Exeter and turn it into a community theater drew about 100 members of the community during a rally Saturday.

The Exeter Theater Company wants to purchase the Ioka from local philanthropist Alan Lewis, who bought the building for $600,000 at a 2011 auction.

Lewis initially wanted to lease the building to the theater company, but changed his mind and now wants the company to buy it.

The theater company has raised enough money through donations to put down a deposit for the building—but not enough for the whole purchase price, according to spokesman Adam Roberts.

Roberts said the group will make a decision on the potential purchase in the next few days.

The theater company wants to fix up the Ioka and make it available for movies, plays, concerts, and other performances.

The Ioka was built in 1915 and for decades screened films, among other performances. Before it was sold to Lewis, the building was used as a Zumba studio.

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