Royal Oak Main Art Theatre could be torn down to make way for new development

Royal Oak's popular Main Art Theatre closed permanently in June 2021. Now it could be demolished under a newly submitted development plan for the site.

Friends of The Main Art, a newly established nonprofit, is trying to save it. 

“We as a community have an opportunity to preserve this important cultural landmark and we can’t let it pass without doing everything we can to ensure that these films light up the screen at the Main Art once again,” said Jason Krzysiak, president of the new nonprofit.

The building's developer, A.F. Jonna Management & Development Co., submitted plans to tear down the theater to make way for a five-story mixed-use building, Sharlan Douglas, Royal Oak city commissioner, confirmed to the Free Press. 

City Planner Doug Hedges told Crain's Thursday afternoon that the mixed-use proposal calls for a new 71-foot building with 9,200 square feet of commercial space for a  restaurant and a retailer — plus first-floor parking. The site plan also includes about 31,000 square feet of office space on the second floor; the third through fifth floors would include 54 new residential units, Hedges said.

Krzysiak said Friends of the Main Art has been in communication with the developer to include a smaller cinema that would screen similar indie and international films, but the current plan doesn't show it.

A.F. Jonna Management & Development Co. could not be reached for comment. 

The theater, at 118 N Main St., temporarily closed last April as COVID-19 lowered attendance. Then, a few months later in June, the familiar marquee of the Main Art  blasted this unexpected message: "Landlord kicked us out. It's been a fun ride. ... RIP 1941-2021."

The message put the landlord in the spotlight. But Todd Fenton, Royal Oak's deputy city manager, said it was the tenant, Landmark Theatres, that terminated its lease with the landlord, A.F. Jonna Management & Development Co. 

Although Friends of the Main Art is newly formed, Krzysiak said it has over 1,700 Facebook members, all of whom "love this theater, who loved the film-going experience at the main Art Theater and want to see that preserved and enhanced in the 21st century." 

More:Closed Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak has group trying to save it

Krzysiak himself has fond memories at the theater. 

Although he grew up in Macomb County, he would always drive to Royal Oak to see movies at the Main Art Theatre. As a film major in college, he said he really appreciated a place to watch the "touchstone, independent films."

He loved it so much, he bought a house within walking distance of it. Then, he started taking his kids there. 

Krzysiak said his son took him to see "Parasite," the movie that would later win best picture at the Oscars, at the theater. 

A Save the Main rally is planned for 2 p.m. April 9 in front of the theater.

The proposal will be discussed at the Royal Oak Planning Commission's April 12 meeting at 7 p.m. Friends of the Main Art calls on its supporters to attend and speak during public comment. 

"My hope is that there will be enough public support for our efforts that we will be included in the decisions that are being made on that property," Krzysiak said. "We really put blood, sweat and tears into this. We want to preserve the legacy of the Main Art, and make sure that independent film can call Royal Oak home for the next 100 years."

Staff writer Julie Hinds contributed. Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein.