Options abound for what the Panida lobby could look like.

It all depends on the community and the vision that residents have for the historic theater.

Potential scenarios include everything from keeping the lobby as is with no changes, moving the concessions to the adjacent retail space, using the retail space for a bar, integrating the lobby space into the Little Theater and using the foyer area to expand the lobby.

Most of the renovations called for in the plans can be done without any significant disruption to the use of the lobby or the theater. The more extensive plans, such as the plan making significant use of the Panida's Little Theater, would take more time and cost more.

The first plan would use the existing doorways by the existing concession area to go into a limited amount of the retail space to carve out space for concessions. The wine and beer concessions area would remain in its current location.

The second plan would consolidate the concessions stand into the retail space, likely utilizing all of the space. Food, wine and beer would be centralized in the space with one door used to go in and the other door to exit into the lobby. Other spaces identified in the plan would be used to improve bathrooms at the theater.

A third plan would create a passthrough to the Little Theater and re-envision the space, opening up the possibilities of how to configure a concessions area and increase the number of bathrooms at the theater.

"Bathrooms are a real thing here when we have a big show," Bessler said. "People are waiting in line quite a long time, just waiting to get into (the bathroom) is long."

A fourth plan would utilize the lobby area to expand the lobby with the ticket booth moving forward to the street. The bar area and concessions area would move into the available space. The plan would require moving doors and ensuring renovations don't hurt the structural integrity of the theater.

So far, reaction to the plans, both by the public and by stakeholders, has been "all over the board" with some favoring few to no changes and others advocating for expanding into the Little Theater and integrating the space.

A critical piece of funding for modern theaters, concessions are also a big contributor to crowding in the Panida's lobby. Panida officials said that when it was built in 1927 during the era of vaudeville and silent movies, theaters didn't offer food and drink on site. Instead, patrons would bring in snacks or drinks from nearby restaurants — if food and drink were even allowed in the performance space. 

"Now they're the difference between making money and losing money," Bessler said.

All of the plans leave the Little Theater intact and all, except for opting to make no changes, would open access and visibility of the theater's historic fountain, often hidden by crowding in the lobby, patrons purchasing concessions and existing utilization of the space.

"When you came in (when the Panida was first built), there was this really grand entryway and the fountain was going," Bessler said. "We'd be able to start using again because you could actually see it."

On a separate project, the Panida is utilizing a $100,000 grant to help renovate the painted plaster walls in the main body of the theater. Additional funds will be needed to complete the work in other parts of the theater.

"Our feeling is if we can make a measurable difference with this first piece, it will encourage donations for the rest of (needed renovations)," Bessler said. "It's beautiful. But then you start looking at the details, you can see the plaster chipping off. You can see that the painting is very faded."

The "sick chicken" — a failed attempt to restore one of the theater's iconic peacocks that adorn the walls — will stay, Bessler told several residents who stopped in to learn more about the renovation. While not original to the theater's beginnings in 1927, the "chicken" is now part of the Panida's lore and the theater would not be the same without it.

"Most people don't notice it, right," Bessler told the pair. "But it's a one-of-a-kind architectural feature that's unique about the Panida."

The Panida board is expected to discuss the lobby renovation project at its regular Feb. 6 meeting, which is also open to the public. However, no decision has been made on which plan to pursue, a timeframe for the project, or how to fundraise for the cost of completing the work.

Information: panida.org