Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
Lido Theater– the building– has been home to several businesses. Regency was the last movie theater to occupy the building, followed by Lido Live, who [as their name may suggest] focused primarily on live music shows. Without any real explanation, they lost their lease, and their last day operating as Lido Live was on December 31st, leaving a hauntingly nerdy message, “So long, and thanks for all the fish” (for those who don’t know, it was the message of the departing dolphins in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)
There have long been rumors of the theater being knocked down to replace it with office buildings, but Brenda Wisneski from Newport’s Deputy Community Development Director said in an email:
“While the theater is currently vacant, we have no request to demolish the building. Lido Theater is classified as a Landmark Structure, per Section 20.38.070 of the Municipal Code, which is intended to encourage its preservation and reuse. The Theater was also identified in a historic inventory conducted by the City in 1991 which classified the structure as a Local Historic site of local significance. Because of its potential historic significance, demolition of the structure would require compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”
In other words, it would be a real PITA to tear this building down.
Then, out of nowhere, on January 3rd, a new message appeared, saying “Happy 2016, Events coming soon”.
There have been rumors for the last few months from many sides that LiveNation was going to rent the venue and pop it into their inventory for rotating concerts. When I contacted LiveNation in regards to this, I got a very brief response: “We currently do not have any events or any information about The Lido Theatre in Newport Beach, CA.”– not something I would bank on, in either direction.
Finally, I contacted the last person of record for the Duda Company and asked them if they knew anything about who was going to be hosting these 2016 events– they have not gotten back to me, yet.
It is painful to see the LidoLive team go after they did such a great job– despite all the roadblocks set up by the city in terms of alcohol restrictions and forcing them to buy extra police protection in exchange for doing business in the area. However, the building does remain, and I know the community is curious who will be popping in next.
If my sources are correct on this, we should know more information by the end of the first quarter, this year. Hopefully whoever the new operators are, they will be able to fare better in the face of a such a hostile business environment by the city.
