New owner discusses Rapids plans

Jeff Morrow will only have to wait a little longer for crowds to line up outside the Book Corner on Main Street in Niagara Falls and roadies to wander over from next door after the load-in for a show at the Rapids Theatre.

Chris Ring, and his partner Dale Segal are the new owners of the venerable theatre and hope to have the place open with some sort of soft opening by Thanksgiving.

Ring spoke to the Express via phone on Wednesday and told the Express about his plans. The partners were awarded their bid after their proposal was scored by a committee including 5 different stakeholders including representatives of the city, Empire State Development, Niagara County and Niagara University.

The other finalist was Jesse Gooch who gave a dynamic presentation but was not chosen.

“I don’t know him but this is Buffalo,” Ring said of Gooch, “we have a lot of mutual friends. We have 1-degree of separation.”

The sale price is $10,000 but the developers have a commitment to spend $1.5 million on improvements, Ring said.

They are already partners in Buffalo’s Rec Room, a Chippewa Street institution.

Ring’s After Dark Presents promotes more than 800 shows annually across upstate New York. In the waning years of John Hutchins reign of error on the place, he put on shows at the Rapids, when it was being managed by Anthony Marsacci. Acts booked included White Chapel, 311 and Gaslight Anthem.During the same era, Anita West ran blues shows.

That ended with Hutchins’ bankruptcy and eventual fraud conviction. West took her shows to Samuel’s Grand Manor in Clarence. Ring began booking bigger shows at Riverworks.

Ring said their plans include weddings in summer, when most regional concerts are outdoor but to also host a summer outdoor concert series with shows that are either free or cheap. Logistics have yet to be worked out. It could be in the parking lot out back or even on Main Street.

How it comes together depends on cooperation from the city and what the new streetscape looks like. For now, there is a lot of work needed.

For example, the pipes burst in the bathrooms before the city took over. The roof leaked and wrecked the floors.

Under Hutchins setup, the bar was in the middle of the room and not large enough for a big show. It will be expanded and moved along the walls. The roof will be fixed. Behind the scenes, the green room and kitchen will be updated. The marquis will be updated as well.

Ring said when the contract is finalized, he will have a construction loan and line of credit as well as relying on reimbursable state grants. He has more than 30 years of experience. It hasn’t always gone well, either.

For example, After Dark is currently the defendant in 3 active lawsuits. Everyone stems from an artist jumping off stage. Barriers can’t stop a singer from doing that, especially in a small club when security is standing stagefront facing the crowd.

“I have been doing this since 1999 and this is all from the last 10 years,” Ring said. “We are living in a more litigious society.”

For now, plans are to finalize the contract and get to work. The name of the theatre will be changing since The Rapids represents the stigma left by Hutchins.

Many of the final Hutchins shows had a rinky dink feel with a cash only bar and limited drink selection, you could get a Miller Lite not a Blue Lite.

Ring said all legit, credible promoters will be welcome to book shows, from metal to Americana, classic rock and country. Rap is welcome as well. A memorable After Dark show was Benny the Butcher in Buffalo in 2022.

“As long as we can pack the facility, that’s what we care about,” Ring said. “This isn’t a club you can cut your teeth on. It is an 1800 seat theater.”

Ring is the rare operator who books acts everywhere and doesn’t just stick to one place. In Buffalo, that means not just the Rec Room but Town Ballroom and Riverworks.

He said most After Dark shows these days carry ticket prices of $30 to $45.

For now, he said it’s time to dress the place up and get it ready for that reopening sometime later this year, to reintroduce the theatre to the neighborhood and get it in a solid place.

Vegas is happening right across the river. We can have a special place stateside as well.