Von Lee future could be all wet

The Von Lee Theater on the edge of campus has been empty since it closed in 2000, but life might soon return in the form of a bar or restaurant.\nA hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Monroe County Courthouse before the county alcoholic beverage board. Current theater owner Artemis LLC placed a petition to transfer almost 30 permits to the site, including a retailer permit for beer, wine and liquor. \nThe permits will be discussed and voted on by the three-member Monroe County Alcoholic Beverage board, consisting of chairman Fred Turner and members Richard McKaig, IU's dean of students, and Bloomington resident Bruce Huot.\nHuot said board members are still unsure of what will become of the property. That question will be revealed at Wednesday's meeting by excise officer Brian Stewart, who is in charge of the permit requests. Voting on the transfer of an alcohol permit for the Von Lee may not happen this week due to local interest in the property, Huot said.\n"I think the members will want to give more consideration than just what has appeared in the newspapers and on TV," Huot said. "I can just speak for myself, and I'm going to do some investigating before I vote."\nHuot said he wants to take an inventory of liquor licenses in the area, as well as talking to neighboring merchants to find out their opinions on the situation.\nArtemis LLC recently purchased the Von Lee, 517 E. Kirkwood Avenue, from Kerasotes movie theaters, which previously placed a covenant on the deed stating no movies could be played in the theater. That covenant sparked a legal suit against the theater giant by the "Save the Von Lee" organization.\nGroup organizer Chris Sturbaum said the organization is against Kerasotes' practices, as well as Artemis' permit application for the liquor license.\n"Many of us grew up going to the Von Lee and we want to see it a movie theater again," Sturbaum said. "It's the last historic theater downtown and it's not allowed to show pictures. We think that's a crime."\nNostalgia was not the only reason Sturbaum cited for keeping the Von Lee a movie house. A multitude of bars and restaurants already on Kirkwood Avenue is another reason.\n"It reflects badly on IU to have a bar right on its doorstep. Think about having a Hooters right across from Sample Gates. That just says 'party school,'" he said.\nAlso, changing the building into a restaurant could negatively affect area businesses instead of complementing them, Sturbaum said.\n"It will only harm the local businesses around it, which are all bars and restaurants, while a theater would help businesses around it," he said. "Restaurants and theaters are complementary uses. A theater draws people downtown and they use the services around it on their night out."\nRobert Schultz, a manager at Nick's English Hut at 423 E. Kirkwood Ave., said a new restaurant could be good for the area.\n"A new restaurant would be good because competition is good. It keeps everyone on their toes," Schultz said. "If we can get people to go to this area of Kirkwood, they are going to visit multiple establishments. When people come down here, they come to Nick's, then move to Uncle Fester's, Kilroy's and Upstairs Pub. Besides, who wants to come downtown if they don't have the options?"\n-- Contact staff reporter Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu.