May 18—GROVE CITY — The Guthrie Theatre's new owner is making progress with the property, and he has more ideas in mind.

Pat Artise, who bought the theater in 2021 from Veritas Arts Inc., shared some details at Monday night's Grove City borough council meeting.

He has started the process of transfering a liquor license transfer from another municipality. Council would have to vote on approving the transfer.

It's been complicated, as there was only one license for sale in Mercer County, Artise said.

The license was last held by the former Golden Apple restaurant in Wheatland. Artise also bought the building, which sits on Broadway and Mercer avenues.

The theater at 232 S. Broad St. has just one screen, and most single-screen theaters have gone by the wayside, he said.

To keep bringing people in, the theater needs to be modernized, which includes a liquor license, he said.

Artise and his crew have been busy with renovations over the past few months, and the Guthrie has already hosted a few private parties.

He is eyeing a movie theater trend in larger cities: offering several different kinds of food concepts in a "food hall" style.

In addition to movies, he hopes to host live theater, musical acts and comedy shows.

Inside the theater itself, Artise has been working on creating spaces dedicated to dining and dancing. Several rows of seats have been removed.

The reclining seats in the balcony have been taken out and are being replaced with tables, chairs and counter seating.

Handicap accessibility is being updated.

Artise is an Army veteran and graduate of Gannon University who opened a neighborhood bar in Erie in the early 1990s.

He's since been involved with more than two dozen restaurants, bars and similar businesses in the Erie area.

He had been semi-retired and living in Florida and made it back to Pennsylvania to be closer to family.

Council members agreed to schedule a public hearing for the liquor license.

The Guthrie, known as "The Queen of Broad Street," opened in 1927 for silent movies and live entertainment on its small stage. The nonprofit Veritas Arts bought the historic theater in late 2018 from local owner Eric Thomas, who had owned and run it with his family since 2002. At the time it had about 500 seats.

Also at Monday's meeting, council members:

—Approved an easement agreement with Springfield Township for the part of the multi-modal trail that will include the Grove City Airport property.

—Heard from Borough Manager Vance Oakes about damage to a beam on the overpass on Harvard Street.

A truck became stuck while trying to drive underneath; the accident had nothing to do with the railroad, he said.

While the borough awaits repairs, there are barricades to prevent traffic from driving under the overpass.

Mayor Randy Riddle said he noticed the barricades had been moved aside, and he put them back.

—Heard from Oakes that George Junior Republic youth helped plant trees in the borough.

—Congratulated Alex Oakes, who was presented a Distinguished Junior Council Person award from Riddle. Oakes is a senior at Grove City High School.

—Heard from Riddle and Tim Bonner about a Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board hearing they'll be attending on May 23 in Harrisburg.

Bonner is the borough's solicitor and he also serves in the state House, representing the 8th District.

Bonner has introduced legislation that would prohibit landfills from being built within 3 miles of the border of a town with a population density of 3,000 people per square mile — like Grove City, he said.

Tri-County Industries Inc. is planning to build a landfill on property the company owns in Liberty and Pine townships.

The hearing will serve as a way for the board to gather more information.

—Agreed to consider drafting a policy that would prohibit smoking at borough playgrounds.