Pembroke to restore historic TOS theater

PEMBROKE, Ga. (WTOC) -The future of a theater is getting clearer, as a venue in Pembroke gets closer to opening.

It comes after the city announced a partnership with a local organization to revive the property that has been vacant for nearly three decades.

The Friends of TOS Theater in partnership with the City Pembroke will get 1 million dollars in SPLOST funding...which the friends of the theater says is huge.

That’s nearly one-fourth of the money the organization says it will need for the project.

History tells the stories that time fades. Similar to the TOS Theater, with its faded walls and chipped paint which was once a prospering part of Pembroke.

“It was thriving, if you ask any of the old timers here in town, it was the place to be on Saturdays,” said Elizabeth Norman, Friends of TOS Theater.

A legacy that Pembroke is hoping to restore.

“We have been very excited about it from the beginning,” said Fernanda Camacho, Downtown Development Authority.

As Pembroke sees more and more growth in the community, the city feels as if this is the right time to move forward with this project after years of less-than-ideal conditions.

“This city purchased the theater intending to do exactly what we are doing now, in 2001. Then we acquired the other two buildings in 2008 so this is a long time coming,” said Camacho.

After years of hopefully wishing the time has come for tactful planning.

“We have a couple of new restaurants in town and there is no rental space in town on this strip here so there is this is a very prized place,” said Norman.

Norman says that this location once open will be a home for movies, live theater, and dance recitals, and more as a multipurpose entertainment center.

“It will serve many purposes and therefore it is not just for the people of Pembroke, but will also serve the 7,000 to 8,000 people in north Bryan county,” said Norman.

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