Couple Trying to Resurrect Fenton Cinema

A couple is hoping to revive the , but is asking for help.

Steve and Teresa LaFountain, of Kalamazoo, need to raise the money for the down payment and the needed repairs that need to be done to reopen the theater. They decided to reach out to the community for help through Crowdfunding. The Crowdfunding bill was passed in March,  to help small businesses raise capital from regular folks in their local community who want to provide support.

The couple has owned and operated the Gull Road Cinema 5 in Kalamazoo for eight years. Menards Home Improvement recently purchased the mall where they lease their theater and plan to tear it down.  The LaFountains are looking for a new venture they can locally own and operate.

When they reopened the theater in Kalamazoo eight years ago, it had been closed down for six years.  They recognized the entertainment void in their community and, being experienced business owners, decided to take on the project of reopening the theater.

They wanted to provide a clean, friendly atmosphere where families could come and see a movie without having to spend a small fortune. Their plan is to apply the same business principles to reopening the Fenton Cinema.

Their are several popular Crowdfunding websites operating under the guidelines of the recently passed bill and the LaFountains chose Peerbackers.com as their Crowdfunding source to work through.  

"The great thing about Peerbackers.com is that all of the support is done via a pledge. No money is collected if we don't raise enough to follow through on the project. All funds are collected securely  through Paypal," said Teresa LaFountain.  

There are rewards attached to each level of pledge that an individual or business makes.

"Our plan for the funds is to convert to digital sound and projection, have one 3D screen, provide a party room, make the necessary repairs to the roof, the HVAC  units, the parking lot and replace broken seats.  We will repaint everything and the entire theater, including all the screens, wall drapes, seats and carpets will be professionally cleaned,” said Steve LaFountain.

Fifth Third Bank has agreed to give the LaFountains 30 days to raise the necessary funds to purchase the building.

To help with this project visit http://peerbackers.com/projects/help-us-reopen-the-fenton-cinema..  

"Don't be intimidated by the goal of $1,000,000.00.  Even if you can only give $10.00, every little bit will help us to get the Fenton Cinema reopened," said Teresa LaFountain.

"If we all work together we can make this happen.  Fenton needs its local theater back open, so the people of Fenton can enjoy seeing movies in their own community again!"