LODI, Calif. — The Sunset Theater in Lodi is officially under new ownership. As for who that is, it's not so clear.
On Thanksgiving, the Sunset Theater announced the sale, marking an end to five years of work trying to renovate the site.
The iconic landmark was sold in 2020 to Terry Clark, a former pest control company owner. The site had been vandalized and broken into over the years, but it still had the original projection equipment, seats, curtains and concession stands.
Clark planned to turn the more than 70-year-old building into a new entertainment venue for big and local acts.
His original timeline and goals for the building ultimately didn't come to fruition, but it did lead to a cherished moment in May of 2020. A red wallet was found in pristine condition while pulling apart a wall. Clark tracked down the original owner and reunited the wallet with the owner, a reunion nearly six decades in the making.
The theater stopped progress in February of 2023. By December 2023, plans to sell were announced.
Clark told ABC10 Sunday that he didn't have much information about who bought the building. He only said that it was in escrow with a trust and closed last week.
As far as why he sold the building, he said it was for personal reasons and that there was nothing more to add.
"I hope to see great things growing on the site. Thank you all for all the support over the last five years," the Sunset Theater said on their Facebook page.
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