Grandview Theatre
David Nedrow’s film background is rich, with a degree in film from the Ohio State University and years of experience managing Drexel North, a single-screen movie theatre. When the Drexel Grandview theatre closed in September 2008, Nedrow and Jennifer Stancel seized the opportunity to achieve their goal of operating a small, vibrant movie theatre. They were able to secure the property in October 2008, and spent five months planning and strategizing before architects were brought in to renovate the historic space.
Thorough from the onset, they knew that without certain upgrades, the Grandview Theatre would not be able to thrive. Nedrow and Stancel became involved in ECDI’s Microenterprise Loan Program, which helps new or existing businesses succeed by providing business training, technical assistance, and microloans. After closing a loan with ECDI, they were able to purchase a state-of-the art projector and walk-in cooler. “We used the ECDI loan for technical upgrades and equipment upgrades,” said Nedrow. The freshly remodeled Grandview Theatre reopened in December 2009, as a place where Columbus-area cinephiles can enjoy independent, international, and classic films.
In the heart of Grandview on Grandview Avenue, Nedrow and Stancel intend for the theatre to become a fixture of the neighborhood, “a place where people can feel comfortable and have a unique experience that wouldn’t be possible at the multiplexes.” With a multitude of boutiques and restaurants in the theatre’s vicinity, patrons can plan a whole evening of dinner and a flick, followed by ice cream or a cocktail. The theatre has successfully hosted many events thus far, such as a horror film marathon and the Manhattan Short Film Festival, with plans for many more in the future. Here in the independent art capital of the world, a unique place like the Grandview Theatre is experiencing a groundswell of support.
