An initial effort in 1984 to preserve the theatre prior to its conversion to a five screen multiplex fell short. A few years after the multiplex closed, a new effort began to restore the theatre that was led by the Colonial Cultural Arts Center, Inc. In April of 2010, the City of Laconia purchased an 18-month option to buy the Colonial Theatre. In October of 2010, the theatre was listed by the NH Preservation Alliance as one of NH’s most important historical treasures. In early 2012, the effort to purchase the Colonial Theatre failed.  But the effort was revived in 2015 (see below), and the theatre was finally restored, reopening in 2021.

Below is list of newspaper articles that describe the restoration efforts that occurred between 2007-2010. All of the articles are unavailable online. The Laconia Citizen newspaper, after a 90 year run, went out of business on October 1, 2016, and took down their web site permanently. The online archive for the Laconia Daily Sun only goes back to 2014. The Laconia Public Library is now the only source for these articles. The library has every issue of the Citizen available on microfilm.

Laconia Citizen Article, October 14, 2007: Laconia Eyes Reviving Downtown Theater
Laconia Citizen Article, December 11, 2007: Council Sets Up Fund for Arts Center
Laconia Citizen Article, February 14, 2008: Study to Test Arts Center Potential
Laconia Citizen Article, February 15, 2008: Performing Arts in the City?
Laconia Citizen Editorial, February 15, 2008: A Cultural Opportunity Worth Pursuing
The Laconia Daily Sun, February 15, 2008: Performing Arts Center Could Be Economic Dynamo
Laconia Citizen Article, Wednesday, July 16, 2008: Performing arts effort refocusing
The Laconia Daily Sun, August 4, 2008: Consultant’s cautious optimism for Colonial Cultural Arts Center not shared by committee
Laconia Citizen Article, Tuesday, April 27, 2010: Colonial Breakthrough Announced
Laconia Citizen Article, Wednesday, April 28, 2010: Decision Won’t Be Rushed
Laconia Citizen Article,Wednesday, April 28, 2010: Save the Colonial – Light the Marquee
Laconia Citizen Article, Saturday, May 1, 2010: Interested Parties Come Forward
Laconia Citizen Article, Wednesday, October 20, 2010: Colonial Theater Named to the ‘Save’ List
Laconia Daily Sun Article, Wednesday, October 20, 2010: Colonial Theater Given ‘Seven to Save’ Status by NH Preservation Alliance

Here is the Laconia Daily Sun article announcing the revival of the restoration effort:

“The city, in partnership with the Belknap Economic Development Council, committed itself to arranging a financial package of $15 million to acquire and renovate the long-closed Colonial Theater along with the commercial and residential units on the lot at 609-621 Main St. Randy Eifert, chairman of BEDC, announced the pending transaction at Wayfarer Coffee Roasters, June 14, 2015, to a packed house of more than 50 people, who, upon hearing the news, burst into a spirited ovation of clapping and cheering.

Altogether, the Colonial complex consists of 38,642 square feet, of which the theater itself represents approximately 20,000 square feet. It sits on a half-acre with 91 feet of frontage on Main Street and 209 feet of frontage on Canal Street. In addition to the theater, the property includes four retail units on Main Street, each of about 1,150 square feet, five retail units on Canal Street, ranging between 250 and 1,500 square feet, and 18 apartments on the second and third floors.

The BEDC, through a wholly owned limited liability corporation — 609 Main Street, LLC — will purchase the property from current owner Patricia Baldi for $1.4 million. The city will loan the BEDC the purchase price to enable the sale to close in about 30 days. The remainder of the financial package will be assembled during the next 18 months.

Finally, at the closing of the financial package, the BEDC will repay its $1.4 million loan from the city, which in turn will lend BEDC between $2 million and $3 million with payments of interest only for a term of seven years to secure the financing for the renovation and restoration of the property.

Once the renovation is complete the city will lease the theater as its sole tenant for seven years, operating the property as a civic auditorium.”

The transaction selling the Colonial Theater closed on July 17, 2015.

Save the Colonial Theatre webpage