The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation has acquired a former adult theater in Youngstown with a lot of history.
The Foster Theater on Glenwood Avenue was originally built in 1938 and began as a movie theater. As competition for theaters grew, the Foster transformed into a home for art films and later adult movies.
Dee Barber bought the Foster in 1994 and continued the operation until recently, according to YNDC.
Ian Beniston, the executive director for YNDC, explained the reasoning behind the purchase.
“We bought the building simply because we wanted to make it something productive. We didn’t want it to be a pornographic theater anymore. We’re standing a block from Neighborhood Park,” said Beniston.
YNDC does a lot of work in the same area as the theatre. It’s all part of work to revitalize the greater Glenwood Avenue corridor.
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