Theater’s Collapse Also Chills Grill Historic Building Must Be Razed, So Hudson’s Next Door Will Close

The impending demolition of the historic Wilma Theatre building will open one of the choicest retail spots in downtown, business leaders said Friday.

The roof of the empty theater collapsed under heavy snow Tuesday, which brought a condemnation order from the city. The building, owned by Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. for the last eight years, will be razed and turned into a city lot.

“It’s probably the most prime location in the downtown area, next to the (Coeur d’Alene) resort,” said Suzanne Kaderka, executive director of the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association. “It has fabulous possibilities.”

The mining company hasn’t decided what it will do with the building, said Tony Ebersole, director of investor relations. Coeur has previously proposed developing a large office tower on the site, which operated as a theater as recently as a decade ago.

However, Coeur has not been especially profitable this decade. The development plans have remained just that.

The location, on the corner of Sherman Avenue and Second Street, has views of The Coeur d’Alene Resort and the lake.

Losing the colorful mural on the side of the theater will be a loss, Kaderka said.

A new building housing a ground-floor restaurant topped with condominiums would be a great fit to the downtown business mix, Kaderka suggested.

Downtown Coeur d’Alene has had its share of troubles, but for the most part merchants have persevered. As in most years, a handful of merchants quit business last year, but new stores opened in their place.

While the landmark theater is doomed to the wrecking ball, the city’s most noted burger hawker, Hudson’s Hamburgers, closed indefinitely Friday.

The 90-year-old restaurant shares a wall with the condemned theater. Steve Hudson, manager of the popular lunchtime haunt, said Friday that he didn’t know when the business would reopen.

Coeur has not set a timetable to decide what it wants to do with the site, which is not for sale at this time. Ebersole would not say how much the building was worth.

Records show the theater was assessed in 1995 at $25,000, and the land at $84,893.

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