Here’s some good news about downtown Clearwater: The Capitol Theatre blew away profit projections in its first quarter as a restored performance venue. And the theater’s popularity has generated enough business for shops and restaurants on the same block that the difference between that block and others downtown is now palpable. Clearly this is no time for the city to rest on its laurels.
The 750-seat theater cleared $170,426 after expenses between its soft opening Dec. 18 and the end of March. Officials had projected only around $50,000.
The historic theater on the corner of Cleveland Street and Osceola Avenue was purchased by the city and renovated, then turned over to Ruth Eckerd Hall to manage. Ruth Eckerd delivered a strong lineup of entertainers during the first quarter, including Jay Leno, ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, comic Sinbad, B.B. King, Art Garfunkel, Amy Grant, Eddie Money and Michael Bolton.