Varsity Theatre Renovation
During mid-2004, the city of Davis purchased the historic Varsity Theater, 616-618 Second St. in the heart of downtown Davis. With the purchase, the City aimed to improve and expand the use of the Theater and transform the Varsity into a major attraction for the region. In early 2005 the city circulated a Request for Proposals/ Qualifications for the development, management and reuse of the Varsity property.
An independent evaluation panel reviewed four proposals and recommended to the City Council a proposal received from the Fenske/Novakovic group that reuses the theater to present high-demand, critically acclaimed independent and foreign art films on their first release dates (similar to the Tower Theater in Sacramento). While movies would be the mainstay of the cinema, it would also be available for rental during open hours to various shows, community uses, and the Davis Film Festival. The City Council approved a lease with Fenske/Novakovic began remodel and ADA improvements to the building. Part of the proposal included conversion of a small retail space to the east of the theater entrance to a pastry/gelato café serving the public from the front of the building and moviegoers from inside the building.
Since the opening of the theater the Varsity has brought over 53,760 people downtown, and plans are in the works to add a second screen to the theater.
