New Owners to “Put Some Lipstick on” the Wilma Theatre

By Jessica Mayrer, 7-24-07

Missoula’s Wilma Theatre is about to get a makeover.

The Wilma is under contract to be purchased by the Rocky Mountain Development Group and revived as a cultural showplace.  The restored theatre will feature regular performances of spoken word, dance and live concerts, while the building’s apartments will be converted to condominiums, sold and renovated to suit the desires of their owners.

“We’d like to have as diverse an offering as we can,” says Rick Wishcamper, president of the Rocky Mountain Development Group, a local real estate company specializing in acquisition, rehabilitation and management of existing multifamily housing, and soon to be owner of the Wilma Theatre.

After nearly four months of negotiations with the current owner, Tracy Blakeslee, it looks as though the $4.25 million deal will close October 1, Wishcamper said.

Once the building in renovated, the average cost for a condo will run between $90,000 and $250,000, with new condominium owners picking up the costs of renovating the units and choosing the aesthetics. 

As for the theatre, the plan is for a spin-off company, Simba Entertainment, to manage it under the supervision of Marcus Duckwitz, a University of Montana graduate and prior director of UM Productions.

“We’re definitely going to hold onto the theatre for awhile.  And we’re going to make sure it stays a theatre,” Wishcamper said.

The large theatre will continue to show films, but the small one may be turned into a coffee shop or a bistro, says Justin Metcalf, Vice President of Rocky Mountain Development.

The new owners are aware that all eyes are on the high-profile deal. 

“This will either make or break our company’s reputation,” Wishcamper said.

Also, a letter of intent has been signed between the new owners and a local chef, yet to be named publicly, to purchase and revive the restaurant in the basement of the building, Wishcamper said. 

And the rumor is, the original Wilma marquee is underneath the existing one. So they hope to bring back the original sign, restore the cornicing on the roof and spruce up the theatre’s lobby, restrooms and concession stand. The building’s exterior will also get a power wash.

They will renovate green, says Metcalf, using non-toxic paint, energy-efficient appliances, and formaldehyde-free cabinets.

Blakeslee, though, has already done a tremendous amount of work on the building, including updating the electrical system, plumbing and putting on a new roof, Wishcamper said.

“We just have to, sort of, come in and put some lipstick on it,” he said. 

At the apartments above the Wilma Monday afternoon a note was slipped beneath tenants’ doors notifying them that the building was about to be purchased. It read, in part:

“...we plan to convert the apartments to condominium ownership with substantial interior renovations and perhaps combination of units. The theatre is a Missoula treasure and we hope to increase the number of live shows and continue the independent film showings. We have formed an entertainment company (Simba Entertainment Company) to manage the theatre and one of our main goals for the whole project is to preserve and improve the theatre. We are not a liberty yet to talk of the other spaces (restaurant, bar, and commercial offices) but will have a web site up soon detailing out the exciting new attractions and planned uses. Regarding the exterior facade of the building we plan to bring back the original Wilma sign and marquee, restore the main storefront below the marquee on Higgins, clean the building, paint the windows, etc. We will also be undertaking a large interior improvement project that includes re-wiring the tower.”