The good news is the cease and desist signs posted on the Rapids Theater by the Niagara Falls Department of Code Enforcement are down and there was a show last night.
The signs were up for the first few weeks of February because there was a problem with the heat at the notoriously cold theater and someone complained, possibly a prospective purchaser trying to drive down the price.
Messages left at the theater seeking explanations were not returned.
The theater remained listed for sale two weeks ago but is not currently online. Usually if a property is under contract, the online listing reads “pending.”
The Rapids remains the subject of foreclosure action brought by Niagara’s Choice Federal Credit Union against 1711 Main Llc., Hutch Enterprises Inc., John L. Hutchins, the State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance and Working Capital Funding Llc.
The action was commenced on Jan. 19 2023 before State Supreme Court Justice Frank Sedita and is ongoing.
The theater was listed for sale for a price of $3 million, the mortgage and back taxes are thought to be about $2 million of that.
Rumor has it there are at least two competing bids.
One is apparently trying to work with Niagara’s Choice to assume the existing mortgage.
The other stands alone.
Last night, the lights were on and there was a show at the theater, the only business open late on an otherwise desolate stretch of Main Street. The entertainment scheduled was Gigolo Y La Exce x Juhn el all star vivo Live
The next show listed online at the theater is March 30, “Easter Weekend Bash” featuring Sam Glizzy and Jrey Cash (hop hop). April 5 the entertainment is Heartsick, Pillars of Autumn, Murder in Rue Morgue and Seditions (deathcore).
Hutchins court case, along with his bookkeeper, Roberto Soliman, remains to be resolved. They were charged with payroll protection loan fraud, among other crimes in 2022, allegedly conspiring to file eight fraudulent loan applications for businesses owned by Hutchins and Soliman, obtaining $749,500 by lying about the revenue and expenses of the businesses.
