When the Geneva Event Centre reopens in the new year, “it’s going to be a showstopper.”
So says Donald Porter, owner of the historic downtown Orillia venue that has been closed since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They shut me down for two years, so I thought I’d use the opportunity to make some major improvements,” he said. “This place is not going to be the same when we reopen.”
The entire floor has been ripped up and will be replaced with vinyl tiling. Porter has also purchased 85 LED pot lights to replace the fluorescent light fixtures and he’ll be installing art deco-style sconces to allow him to better control the lighting.
It’ll be a significant change from the theatre’s bingo hall days.
“I don’t want it to look so industrial,” Porter said. “I don’t want anybody to walk in here and say, ‘Oh, I used to play bingo here.’”
He hopes to reopen in February and he’s excited about what the West Street venue will offer to the community.
The Geneva Event Centre received positive reviews from comedians who performed there prior to the pandemic, so plans are in the works to have the theatre become a “satellite club” for Yuk Yuk’s.
Porter has also been approached by someone who is interested in organizing dinner theatre nights.
The goal is to host one Yuk Yuk’s show and one dinner theatre every week.
There will be concerts, too, with some of the better-known acts coming in on weekends. Those who don’t tend to draw as much of a crowd will be able to perform on Thursdays.
Porter wants to make the Geneva Event Centre “a destination.”
“I think this city needs more fun,” he said. “There’s not enough of that right now, and I’m going to be the guy.”
Keep up with the renovation progress on Facebook.
