A vacant former furniture store in Lancaster is being transformed into a dining and entertainment venue.
When it’s complete, the building at 110-114 N. Water St. will house the Zoetropolis Art House independent movie theater and a Columbia Kettle Works beer tasting room, developer Patrick Tell said.
Zoetropolis will operate a full-service restaurant in conjunction with its theater, and there will be another restaurant in the front of the building, Tell said.
The plan includes an outdoor courtyard for patrons.
Zoetropolis currently operates at 315 W. James St. It announced its pending move earlier this summer on its blog, saying “It’s truly a dream come true.”
It said the new space will maintain Zoetropolis’ “comfortable, eclectic style,” but on a bigger, better scale. Tentative plans call for a stage in the theater for live performances, and a section with tables and chairs in addition to conventional theater seating.
Customers will be able to enjoy food and drinks in the theater, Tell said.
A definite opening hasn’t been set, though it’s likely to be sometime this fall.
The Colombia Kettle Works tasting room may open a little later, toward the end of this year or beginning of 2018, co-owner Bill Collister said.
“We’re considered phase two,” he said.
The tasting room is scheduled to come before the city Zoning Hearing Board later this month.
On Monday, state officials announced that Zoetropolis was approved for a $187,500 low-interest loan for machinery and equipment for the new site.
The loan comes from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, via the EDC Finance Corp. the finance arm of the Economic Development Co. of Lancaster County.
Zoetropolis’ owners were not immediately available for comment.
This article was published on LancasterOnline.