HOLDREGE, NE — A nearly 100-year-old theater is back open and welcoming in the community after a two-year shutdown.

The Sun Theater in Holdrege is celebrating its grand opening week capped off by showing its first movies on Friday. Dozens packed the lobby on Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This has been such an exciting week," Johnson said. "We’ve finally been able to share this venue with the public and we’ve gotten an extremely good response.”

The Sun closed when the pandemic started in 2020. Adjacent Properties, LLC., bought it later in the year and launched an extensive renovation. Workers gutted the building but kept an exposed original brick wall, restored the wood floor near the screen and put the original ceiling tiles behind the concession stand. Director of Operations Jennifer Johnson says it was important to preserve the Sun’s history.

“I know this theater holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts," Johnson said. "During this event week, we’ve actually seen some of the (former) projectionists from the 40s and 50s stop in.”

The Sun now sports 148 seats with a reservation-only mezzanine level for 12. The Theater will offer movies on weekends and function as an event space during the week.

“This opportunity gives me an outlet for my creativeness," Johnson said. "We will be doing a lot of event planning, parties, possibly weddings someday and that’s right up my alley.”

Tickets are affordable with evening movies costing $7 for adults and $5 for kids, seniors and military members. Johnson hopes people leave appreciating the Sun’s blend of modern offerings with a historic feel.

“I just want them to walk in here and just feel like this is a different experience than they can get anywhere else.”

The Sun Theater is showing "Peter Rabbit 2" on Friday afternoon and "Heaven is for Real" in the evening. It starts showing its new release films next weekend with "The Bad Guys."