North Fork Native Kicks Off GoFundMe to Restore Greenport Auditorium To Original Use

NORTH FORK, NY-Alex Aurichio has a dream — to restore the Greenport Auditorium to its former glory.

Aurichio, who has been in the film business for 36 year, spent his early years in Southold — and his family has owned the beautiful Queen Anne Victorian building on Greenport’s Main Street, now Goldin Furniture, since 1968.

On Thursday, Aurichio assured residents that Goldin Furniture, which was started by Oscar Goldin in 1948 and is now a furniture business owned by his brother Andrew, is not going out of business.

“It will remain in business for the foreseeable future. So please continue to shop there are support all of our local businesses as well,” Aurichio said.

However, Aurichio said a dream was born to raise funds to preserve and restore the building, with a hope of eventually bringing it back to its original use as a ”cultural centerpiece” of the village, used as a theatrical, film, and musical venue, as well as to host other events.

To that end, a GoFundMe page, “Help Save the Greenport Auditorium”, was created; the page has raised $440 of its $40,000 goal in less than a day.

“The building has been in my family since 1968 and has fallen into disrepair over the last two decades,” Aurichio said.

Aurichio said he’s considering launching a non-profit organization down the line.

“In the meantime, though, it needs major repairs to the roof, exterior and foundation. Profits from the furniture business are insufficient to accomplish this task, so we’re asking for donations to begin repairs and restoration. We will also use part of the funds to file for 501c3 status so we can begin applying for grants and accepting charitable donations,” the page read.

Emergency repairs were made to the roof recently to prevent further damage, but the building ”is in urgent need of a new roof and exterior paint job,” Aurichio said. “For a building this size, it will run into the tens of thousands of dollars. We would like to begin as soon as the weather permits.”

Future repairs will include complete rewiring and installation of solar panels on the south side of the roof, which is not visible from the street, he said.

“The generosity of donors who support the arts is critical to the success of this venture,” Aurichio added.

The dream is a labor of love for Aurichio, who currently lives in Brooklyn.

“This project is near and dear to my heart because I grew up here,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page. “As a child, I loved exploring this beautiful old Queen Anne Victorian theater. As a teenager, I worked at the furniture business that my parents ran. It would break my heart to see it fall further into decay or be sold off for a fraction of its real value. Built in 1894, it is a local, state and national treasure that must be preserved. Only six theaters of the same design still exist anywhere in the world. Our hope is to see it returned to its orginal splendor and updated with 21st century technology.”

The Greenport Auditorium began its 44-year history as a center of entertainment after a Presbyterian minister “wanted to bring culture to the East End,” Aurichio said.

The Greenport Auditorium was built in 1894 by architect George H. Flack. Seating was provided for 300 in the orchestra and 100 in the balcony; it closed in 1939.

The building sustained damage in the Hurricane of ‘39 and then, ”the war came along, so it sat vacant,” Aurichio said, until Goldin purchased the building in 1948.

“I thought it would be a great thing to try and restore it and bring it back to the way it used to look,” he said.

Possible uses might include a theater, concert venue, a convention center, a cultural hub, with even possibly a state-of-the art movie theater with an IMAX screen.

The idea of a restoration so massive is “daunting,” Aurichio said, that’s why he turned to crowdfunding; he said he’s been gratified by the outpouring of support on social media so far.

Should the decision be made to pursue a 501c3 designation, Aurichio said that would open the door for charitable donations, historic grants, and arts endowments.

“We’re thinking about the enrichment of the community of this project,” Aurichio said, adding that scholarships might also be given. “Our dream is ultimately to be able not only to restore the place but to help the community.”

While he’s not sure yet how to reward GoFundMe donors — with ideas including free tickets to fundraising events, concerts, screenings and theatrical performances, as well as discounted rates for event rentals — Aurichio said he’s grateful for the support of the community.

“My whole family will be immensely grateful for any donations, large or small. I thank you for your time and for every penny you can spare to preserve this beautiful building,” he wrote.