Linda Theatre’s new owners to reopen with $5 movies Aug. 4 after cleanup, painting

The vintage Linda Theatre in Akron's Goodyear Heights has new owners now but never fear: $5 movies will continue.

Co-owners Scott Summers and his wife Debbie of Green as well as David Schweyer of Akron and Steven Summers of Colorado bought the theater in early June from Ted Bare, who had owned the Linda since 1974 and still owns Akron's Highland Square Theatre. This week, they temporarily closed the Linda for cleanup, painting and repairs before reopening Aug. 4 with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem."

Starting next week, Summers' son, Kyle, expects to offer the Linda's popcorn and other concessions, whose prices haven't changed, through DoorDash. That includes everything, down to the $4.50 kids' snack trays.

Kyle has seen multiple guests come in to the Linda to buy the popcorn and then leave.

"If you can order a $5 bucket from the Linda and have movie theater popcorn from the comfort of your couch, why wouldn't you?" he said.

Scott Summers promises the vintage vibe of the Linda will remain, including the peach and blue "leatheret" diamonds on the doors heading into the theater. This week, he, Schweyer and their crew are repainting the entire interior, including the lobby ceiling. They'll also be changing the ceiling's blue lighting.

Schweyer, who was born across the street from the theater, chose "cinema screen" (off white) and "glamour" mauve-like hues for the front lobby and "darkroom" dark plum with gold trim for inside the theater, for an art deco look.

The new Linda crew stripped the white-and-black tile and will next seal and put a shiny finish on it.

"I want that room to really pop when you walk in," Scott Summers said.

Also before reopening, the movie screen will be cleaned and the sound system revamped.

Linda Theatre history

The Linda had its premiere Nov. 17, 1948, with the Technicolor drama “Tap Roots,” starring Van Heflin and Susan Hayward. The feature included a color cartoon and newsreel. Designed and built by 21-year-old Lino Alessio, son of Akron contractor Ernest Alessio, the theater was named after Ernest's 2-year-old daughter, Linda.

Dubbed “Akron’s Newest and Most Modern Movie Theater” on a 1948 theater poster in the lobby, the Linda was the only theater in Ohio with radiant heat that came up from the floor.

This November, the new Linda owners plan to celebrate the theater's 75th anniversary all month long, possibly with classic movies including ones that played there in 1948. The theater, which had 800 seats then, now has 500 after larger seats were installed in recent years.

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Buyers approached Ted Bare

Originally, the four business partners approached Bare about purchasing the former post office next door to the Linda at 1763 Goodyear Blvd. For about seven years, Schweyer had been renovating that building, which he was leasing, to transform it into a music venue, cafe and arcade.

Scott Summers and Schweyer, who met three years ago doing a movie project on the stage Schweyer built at the post office building, decided to go into business together to buy that building. When they asked Bare about selling, Bare also offered to sell the Linda.

Scott Summers said the offering price for both properties was too good to pass up.

"It wasn't initially in my plan to own the theater," Scott Summers said.

He's a musician and was a sales representative for Roland, a musical instrument company, for more than 30 years. Schweyer is a musician, visual artist and martial artist.

In the longer term, their plans for the Linda include building a larger lobby concessions counter and taking out about three rows of seats to build a big stage at the front of the theater for live music, comedy and theatrical performances. The owners also plan to later add VIP tables and chairs in the back third of the Linda seating.

Live performances are expected to start at the Linda next year.

Outside, Scott Summers plans to add landscaping in a concrete area near the back door and to fence and light its back parking lot, next to Wingfoot Church.

Cafe Rewind and Afterlife club

Next door, the 40-seat Cafe Rewind, part of Schweyer's big project for the post office building, is expected to have a soft opening next month, after air conditioning installation is complete. The grand opening for the new entertainment space and cafe is geared for September, including live music.

The Linda will host regional, national and international acts, while The Afterlife club next door will have local and regional acts, Schweyer said. He said the club will offer rock, jazz, blues and folk music.

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The Afterlife club and arcade and Cafe Rewind have an avant garde look designed and created by Schweyer. The full first-floor space is 9,000 square feet and has a maximum capacity of 200 people.

Schweyer also has 15,000 video games from the '80s and '90s, from Pacman to Atari to virtual reality.

The big bar that he built, featuring a stone mosaic face matching the one in the cafe, will double as a smoothie bar by day.

Cafe Rewind will offer ramen bowls from $13 to $20, including the Ninja Girl BBQ chicken and veggies; the Black Knight with BBQ brisket, egg and veggies; and the Chimera, a "chicken-brisket-pork BBQ monster."

Also offered will be vegetable medleys and salads, plus seven varieties of hot pressed sandwiches from $6 to $14. They include the spicy "3 Alarm Scorcher" featuring chicken and the Roast Beast featuring BBQ brisket. Coffees and hot or cold teas, including medicinal teas, also will be sold.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Linda Theatre’s new owners to keep $5 movies, add cafe next door