The Elk Rapids Cinema is for sale, leaving the future of the beloved community hub in doubt.

The single-screen theater, which remains in daily operation, was listed this week for $500,000 via Century 21 Northland. The listing notes it’s the first time in 50 years that the theater is for sale, adding “this prime location is ideal for continuing operation or new creativity.”

For the past five decades, the theater was owned and run by former Village President Joe Yuchasz, who died earlier this year at 82. It was very much a passion project for Yuchasz, who ran every aspect of the operation and became admired throughout the community.

It is now owned by Yuchasz’ family. The family declined comment through listing agent Deirdre Carroll, who also declined to identify which family members have ownership (Yuchasz had no children).

The listing sent shockwaves through downtown Elk Rapids, with residents, shopkeepers and workers all expressing hope that the cinema – which has been operating since 1940 – remains active. Across the street at Happy Camper Coffee Co., the entire staff was dressed in pink to celebrate the cinema’s showing of Barbie this week.

“It’s a staple in our town. I mean just look at all of us,” says manager and Elk Rapids native Tammy Hill, gesturing to their pink duds. “The cinema has always been here. Everybody loves it. Kids have been going there for years. I went there was a kid…we still go all the time. And Joe was just so, so amazing.”

Hill and others expressed doubt that Yuchasz made much money operating the theater. Still, they’re hopeful someone can make it work. Aside from adding a considerable amount of charm and serving as a focal point for the community, a working theater is simply nice to have from a practical standpoint, they say.

“You don’t want to run into Traverse City with all of the traffic when you can just pop right in here,” Hill says. “It’s nice, it’s convenient, it’s close to home. It’s really a family theater…I’d hate to see it turned into apartments or condos or something like that.”

Hill showed The Ticker an anonymous flyer titled “Wake Up Elk Rapids” that was distributed to many downtown businesses a few weeks ago. “It’s looking like Joe Y’s family has decided to sell it to the highest bidder, which most likely means a developer. A big part of our business community and our village will be lost,” the unsigned flyer reads. “PLEASE communicate your concern and love of the theater by dropping a note at the cinema. Maybe the family will reconsider…”

Elk Rapids Downtown Development Authority Board Chair Barbara Matthews says the cinema has a “powerful presence” in Elk Rapids, both through the place it holds in the hearts of local residents and to the bottom lines of business owners.

“The theater is pretty engrained in our community. It’s been a beacon to draw people into town, and we know that it provides a boost to our shops and restaurants,” she said. “Anecdotally, when the theatre was closed down for a few months after Joe’s passing, some of the restaurant owners (said) their business was down during that period.”

At Corner Drugs, pharmacist Divyang Chhunchha likens the theater to the anchor tenant of a mall. 

“It’s been really good for the community. It draws people downtown. Not just my business, but all the downtown businesses have benefitted. If we lose that anchor store, there’s just going to be less traffic,” he says. “It’s really, really important, and I hope someone will buy it and continue it as a theater.”

The desire to see the cinema continue to operate is one rooted in more than convenience, dollars and cents, says its next door neighbor. Harbor Antique Mall Manager Michelle Carpenter says the theater touched countless lives.

“Joe employed a lot of young kids working with him there. He gave them moral lessons, which was just awesome. You worked for Joe and you listened to a lot of stories, a lot of history,” she says. “Being a parent in this town or having kids grow up here, you were blessed if your son or daughter worked at that theater, to have that kind of an experience. I just can’t imagine it not being here.”