By Myra Myra
It’s been three months since it was announced that Columbia City Theatre (CCT) was under new management and closing for renovations, and later this month it will reopen with free shows from local hip-hop sensations Mash Hall and orchestral pop maestros Grand Hallway.
It’s clear that this old 1917 Vaudeville theater is trying to dust itself off and come back better than before. Under new owners Robert Hillman and CB Shamah, it’s been restored to a 300-capacity theater with a state-of-the-art recording studio and front bar that will host live entertainment six nights a week. Food will be served through a partnership with next-door neighbors Tutta Bella, and the club’s Facebook page already has more than 1,000 fans.
In a few short weeks, all will be well for the little theater that could. And while things are going smoothly for the Columbia City Theatre, there is a slight asterisk hanging over its name after more than a dozen people lost a combined total of $9,000 to the previous management team.
Indeed, many people who had planned to rent the club under the old management team – Columbia City Multi Media - lost hundreds of dollars when the management team was evicted from the premises.
“Everything happened so fast,” said Erica, former events director with Columbia City Media. “In just a short amount of time I had to email everyone who still had events on the books and let them know that their event would be canceled, I tried to get the new management team to keep the events going, but they refused because they needed to close for repairs.”
On February 27, 2010 Erica sent out the letter to 12 people who still had active and paid for events scheduled:
It is with deepest regrets that I write to all of you tonight. As of 6:00PM today, the theater has switched hands. It was originally said that they would honor all shows that were already on the books. Unfortunately, as of today they have decided they will not even do that. The theater will be shutting down for the next couple months for renovations and even after that they may be further clearing the books. I myself am no longer working with the theater. If you have any questions or concerns about your events, please contact the landlord to be directed to the new owners who are now responsible for anything that was on the books. Again, I am terribly sorry to have to be the one to give this news.
“I was outraged to say the least,” says Jason Wilson. “I paid $750 dollars to rent the space for my 30th birthday party.” I tried contacting everyone who was involved and got nothing but the run around. I even contacted the attorney general and the Better Business Bureau. I’m still having my party but my budget is cut in half. I just want my money back”.
Several others have come forward who rented the space for events such as wedding receptions and even a CD release party, all canceled within weeks of their scheduled date.
So who is responsible? Columbia City Multi media was owned and operated by Thomas Oshinksi, a Tacoma lawyer who happens to specializes in consumer practice. Attempts to contact him elicited the following reply:
Columbia City Multi Media, the Company operating the Columbia City Theater from July of 2008 through February of 2010 lost all assets to the building owner for severe back payment of rents and promissory notes and surrendered the premises to him in lieu of foreclosure and eviction on February 27, 2010. Having nothing left it dissolved via certificate of cancellation submitted to the Secretary of State and no longer exists. Anyone presently operating the Columbia City Theater, if any, is not associated with or represented by me.
To that I can only add that it’s a very unfortunate situation. As I said the business was foreclosed not sold. Owners made no money, only lost, many in the 5 and 6 figure range. Many many others lost hours of unpaid time. I hope for the sake of the community whoever takes over the theater is able to make it the successful and vibrant place we all want it to be despite this economy.
Oshinki filed a letter with the Department of Licensing on February 27, 2010 to close the business, naming himself as sole managing member of Columbia City Multimedia, but has so far failed to return $9,000 in rental deposits. Further attempts to contact him have gone answered.
So what’s Plan B? Because Columbia City Media was an LLC a Limited Liability Company, It will be difficult to get any money back. The new management team has been very responsive and sympathetic to the ongoing situation, but it seems there is only so much they can do.
Unlike Columbia City Multimedia, they will not be renting the space out for evening events due to prearranged use of the studio.
In the midst of all of this confusion, the new management team has this to say:
We did not purchase the business that previously occupied this building. We’re new tenants occupying this incredible space intending on making this historic theater live up to its potential and bring another successful business to this wonderful neighborhood.
This is a tough situation for all parties involved. The people who lost their deposit money aren’t looking to attack the new or old management team; they just want their money back. Not only have ample funds been lost, but a trust has been broken.
In two weeks time, the theater will reopen, and few if any will speak about what happened behind the scenes.
Myra Myra on the Wall is a semi-regular column written by a hip, Rainier Valley 20-something who seeks to uncover all the fantastic happenings happenings in Southeast Seattle for those of us who don’t necessarily equate going downtown with having a good time. Email Myra with your favorite south-of-I-90 hang-outs, upcoming events or random observations about hidden south-end spots. Photo/do communications
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