If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a theater, here’s a great opportunity: The Olde Walkerville Theater is for sale.

Current owner Mary Lambros says the deal is for the entire venue: stage, equipment, lights and all.

“It’s the end of an era,” Lambros told CBC. “And this is an opportunity for someone to create a new era.”

November will be the theater’s last month of operation under Lambros’ management. He’s putting it on the market after 11 years of ownership.

However, he has no intention of selling the contents separately. His hope is that potential buyers want to continue the building’s legacy as a live entertainment venue.

“I think it would be foolish not to keep it as a theatre, because it has so much potential. It’s a workspace,” Lambros explained. “It’ll be ready turnkey. If someone comes to me and says, ‘Mary, I want to start January 1, go for it.’

Lambros, 1564 Wyandotte St. He bought the property at East in 2013 after it sat unused for years. He invested heavily in the renovation and re-equipment of the theatre.

The venue, which has a capacity of 900 people, has hosted hundreds of events since then, hosting a wide range of entertainment such as concerts of all types, musicals and plays, film screenings, weddings and even funerals.

Lambros said he is proud to have provided a showcase for talent from amateurs to professionals and to have established a cultural center in Walkerville.

The history of the theater dates back to 1918. It was designed by architect C. Howard Crane, who would later design Detroit’s iconic Fox Theatre.

Following the revival of Lambros, the Olde Walkerville Theater performed Juno award-winning singer Lights in 2015. Legendary Windsor-bred rock trio The Tea Party performed there the same year, and local duo The Blue Stones released their latest album there in 2022. .

According to Lambros, who owns several companies, including investment firm Integrite Group, profitability wasn’t important to him when it came to the Olde Walkerville Theatre.

“Walkerville is based on a very unique sense of community, the idea of ​​an old neighborhood,” he said. “And I thought it would be a great thing to have an old theater there and revitalize it.”

“It’s been great for me. I’ve met so many wonderful people… I never did this to make money. It was never about me.”

Lambros hopes to complete the sale in 2025. However, starting from December 1, the hall will be dark.

The announcement was met with sadness in Windsor’s music and arts community. Lambros said he’s heard from many people who have great memories of the shows over the past decade.

Grace 2, a London and Toronto-based tribute band to The Tragically Hip, has performed four times at the Olde Walkerville Theater – including last weekend, when the closing date was announced by a graphic on stage.

Grace 2 frontman Andy Wehrspann said it was both a bittersweet experience; the climax of a sold-out crowd singing along while sharing uncertainty about the venue’s future.

“The energy we got in that room was absolutely unparalleled,” Wehrspann said fondly.

“It’s a feeling of loss because we always knew when we put on a show and came to play in Walkerville it would be packed and it would be a party.”

“Maybe someone will buy it and keep it as a music venue. That would be great. I hope that happens… I don’t want to see movie theaters closing.”