Barrhead, say hello to Patrick and Sheana McKeen, new owners of the Roxy Theatre.
They took over the theatre from Jim and Mary Carnegie on Thursday, May 1.
The changeover represents a leap into the unknown for the couple.
Patrick’s last job was in a hydrovac oil field business in Fort McMurray, where he worked for eight-and-a-half years.
“I wanted a change of pace,” he said last Thursday. “I wanted to do something new and exciting.”
Last spring, the couple moved to a Rich Valley farm and began scouting for a business.
Even before they discovered the Roxy was up for sale they went there to watch movies.
When Patrick stumbled across a Kijiji ad saying “community theatre for sale” he was intrigued.
He and Sheana met Jim and Mary and were shown around the 64-year-old building.
“I immediately knew I wanted to buy it,” said Patrick, who grew up in Rimbey, Alberta, and is a lifelong lover of movies – particularly comedies. His wife, who hails from Vancouver, was equally keen on the purchase.
Then began a period of training with the Carnegies, who passed on lessons from 19 years of running the theatre.
Patrick and Sheana have no immediate big plans for the Roxy.
“Right now we want to run it as it has been run,” said Patrick. “Jim and Mary have been doing a good job.”
Down the line they may look at renovating the lobby area, perhaps relocating the concession booth and providing space for people to queue up inside in the warmth. Another idea is to show sporting events such as the Grey Cup, Stanley Cup and ultimate fighting.
But that is for another day. For now the couple are getting used to the idea of being owners of the Roxy.
A new life beckons. Just as in the movies, unexpected events sometimes come to pass. Last Wednesday, Patrick was buoyed by his first few days in the Roxy hot seat, with the movie, Heaven Is For Real, helping to attract a large audience.
“It has been really good,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of people come – we’ve had good numbers.”
Many of those who came seemed to know about the change in ownership.
“The news seems to have spread around Barrhead pretty quickly,” Patrick said.
