THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130330
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
Since 1915, the theater on Granby Street has mirrored the ebb and flow of downtown Norfolk.
In the roaring '20s, it was a vaudeville house where diamondlike chandeliers from Paris hung from the ceiling and majestic curtains swished open to introduce singers, dancers, comics and actors.
World War II kept the downtown - and the old theater - hopping. The theater, which later turned into a cinema, remained at the center of the retail road until 1987.
Then, nothing.
The Granby Mall Cinema shut down. It was the last of several movie theaters lining the street. Other businesses took the same route, leaving downtown buildings stamped with ``For Lease'' and ``No Trespassing'' signs.
``Nothing was trading of any consequence,'' said Mike McCabe, president of Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate. ``There just wasn't anyone interested in occupying the buildings.''
But now, McCabe and other real estate officials say investment is starting to trickle in. The owners of the deteriorating buildings are finding buyers and tenants lured by the visions of shoppers crowding the city's downtown streets.
Nauticus, or the National Maritime Center, has increased sidewalk traffic in the area, and plans for two other projects - Tidewater Community College's Norfolk division to be located on Granby Street and the MacArthur Center shopping mall a few blocks away - could provide the extra boost.
The old Granby Mall Cinema was one of the first to be sold. Richard Levin saw jewels glittering beneath layers of chipped paint and caked grime - and he saw opportunity.
``Diamonds in the rough,'' he said, ``we're finding diamonds in the rough here!''
Indeed, workers scraping through the plywood walls found Italian marble. And Levin, owner of Levin's Brass Beds of Virginia, also discovered the Parisian chandeliers.
Levin bought the theater last month and plans to find an operator once he has finished renovating. He hasn't decided what it will be but is considering a cinema, restaurant and a dinner theater.
Others who share Levin's optimism for Granby Street also are speculating on its future.
Jim Manning, president of the Virginia Theatrical Society, plans to open a classy nightclub off Granby Street this fall. He hopes his formal place will be an answer to visitors, downtown workers and other residents who want more evening options.
``I'm a big believer in downtown,'' said Manning, who convinced his nephew to open a restaurant nearby. ``I think there's no question that downtown Norfolk is about one-third of the way through a massive revitalization.''
Manning's nephew, Phil Haushalter, also sees the glimmer of growth. The owner of Phil's Grill in Virginia Beach plans to renovate an old building off Granby and open a new restaurant.
Some revitalization will come later, after TCC is nearly complete and the MacArthur Center is a done deal, said Mark Warlick, senior vice president of S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
``The trickle is there,'' he said, ``but retailers generally wait until the activity is there. They can't afford to wait long for the business.''
Other real estate activity has been held up because of property values. Commercial real estate prices are still sagging, and some owners - mostly family trusts and banks - are charging too much, Warlick said.
``The owners have thoughts of Granby Street when it was in its heyday,'' he said.
Adding to the problem is that some owners aren't selling or leasing; they're squatting.
Levin doesn't like the idea of owners holding onto deteriorating properties, unwilling to sell or lease to people who might make over the old buildings and add some sparkle to downtown.
``So many people are sitting on Granby Mall,'' he said. ``They've waited and waited. They're not doing anything there.''
The vacancy rate for downtown Granby Street, which is between Brambleton Avenue and Main Street, wasn't available. But on some blocks, more than one-third of the buildings are unoccupied.
Levin said the owners of Granby's old buildings should sell their properties to the younger generation.
``It takes energy to turn around,'' he said. ``They need to pass the torch.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color photos]
JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI/Staff
ABOVE: The old Granby Mall Cinema was purchased last month by
Richard Levin, owner of Levin's Brass Beds of Virginia. Although
Levin hasn't decided exactly what he plans to do with the property,
he said he plans to hire an operator once he has finished renovating
it. TOP: A look inside the cinema.
WHAT'S COMING ON GRANBY
Community College: The Norfolk division of Tidewater Community
College will be located on Granby Street.
Nightclub: Jim Manning, president of the Virginia Theatrical
Society, plans to open a classy nightclub this fall off Granby
Street.
Restaurant: Phil Haushalter - the owner of Phil's Grill in
Virginia Beach - plans to renovate an old building off Granby and
open a new restaurant.
Granby Mall Cinema: Richard Levin bought the theater last month
and plans to find an operator once he has finished renovating. He
hasn't decided what it will be but is considering a cinema,
restaurant and a dinner theater.
by CNB