Business owner Renee Carrillo is a woman of her word.
More than a year ago, when she took the lead on the restoration and reopening of Morgan Hill’s iconic Granada Theater, the local coffee shop owner went full speed ahead.
“It hasn’t been a piece of cake,” admitted Carrillo, who, among other titles, is the President of the Morgan Hill Granada Preservation Society.
With all the required city permits and business licenses accounted for, the last hurdle—an unexpected one at that—is a final inspection by the health department, which will conduct a July 1 walkthrough of the downtown Morgan Hill theater at 17440 Monterey Road.
The MHGPS, which holds a 1-year lease that ends Dec. 1, wants to reopen and transform the Granada Theater into a permanent multi-purpose creative arts center focused on live performances (such as concerts, comedy shows and theater), cinema (a mix of oldies, art films, special interest showings and film festival), and community service fundraisers, according to the group’s June 2014 Business Plan Executive Summary.
However, the city has other plans. Officials want to sell the Granada property, along with other downtown parcels, to developers who would agree to build new projects in accordance with the city’s downtown specific plan. The city’s plans call for replacing the existing structures on these properties with new mixed-use retail, dining, residential and office developments.
The city’s Redevelopment Agency purchased the property in 2008 as part of a series of purchases to redevelop the downtown area. The RDA was closed by the state in 2012, and the Granada and other properties are now owned by a trust fund controlled by Santa Clara County and other local and state taxing entities.
The city and the trust are preparing to put the properties out to bid later this year.
“It has been a year and a half (since the effort began). As soon as we open the theater, I have delivered on my promise,” said the proprietor of downtown’s popular hangout, Grinds, Vines & Automobila Cafe. “Once I bring it to code and make it fully operational, I’m stepping down.”
The MHGPS overcame a major obstacle only a few weeks back when they were able to raise enough funds—between $30,000 and $40,000—to complete mandatory restroom upgrades to accommodate disabled patrons.
However, before getting the OK from the health department, more funds were needed—approximately $3,800—to re-floor the concession area of the theater. With that now complete, “I’m only two weeks shy from delivering on my promise,” said Carrillo, pointing to the July 1 inspection date.
Carrillo said she is “absolutely” confident that they will pass the health inspection and be able to start scheduling live music acts and “epic movie” showings before the end of July, although there is no announced grand opening date.
“We plan to open with a bang—a movie night followed by live music,” said Carrillo, who has classics such as George Lucas’ original Star Wars or Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in mind for opening week. “We definitely want to deliver by this summer.”
The theater, which has the capacity to seat more than 200, is also set up for wireless live streaming seminars, which are expected for Sunday morning masses from a church in San Diego, according to Carrillo.
