Staff Report //January 11, 2019//
The Grand on Main will celebrate its first anniversary by revealing the original sign from the Grand Theatre, which was housed in the historic building that is now home to the boutique bowling alley and restaurant on Thursday.
The circa 1866 Robinson Building at 1621 Main St. was home to a vaudeville and silent movie theater from 1909-1914, and a sign from that time was unearthed during construction for its modern-day incarnation. The discovery of the sign inspired the name of The Grand on Main, which opened in December 2017.
“It was an exciting find,” Greg Middleton, developer of The Grand on Main, said in a news release. “The sign provides a window into the past where entertainment and culture were a part of Columbia’s Main Street.”
Carolina Conservation, based in Irmo, restored the sign.
“Conservation is all about stabilizing and preserving items with historical and cultural value for future generations,” Carolina Conversation managing partner Ben Umberger said. “We had the privilege during the restoration of consulting with conservators from the H. L. Hunley submarine project in Charleston, who helped with ideas for stabilization of the rusted components.”
Anniversary festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m.
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