UPTOWN page 37 /— Vital to the concern's success, he says, are the multi-offerings of a multiplex. His nearest and largest competitors are the AMC Maple In, the Showcases in Pon- tiac, the Movies at Oakland and the Star John R theater in Madi- son Heights. The Trepeck venture has roots in the South. Between 1993 and early 1995, David, a graduate of West Bloomfield High School and the University of Michigan, was developing a practice facility for the Dallas Stars hockey team in Texas. Carole, a Kingswood grad and Wolverine, was completing her law degree through the Univer- sity of Detroit. While her hus- band was in Texas, she joined him and finished a few terms of school at Southern Methodist University. The couple saw a Dallas sub- urb that reminded them of Birm- ingham and Bloomfield. It was an upscale locale that touted an old movie house retro-fitted to contain four theaters showing mainstream films. Business-minded since high school, David says he believed the idea could work back home. "We started exploring the pos- sibilities in Birmingham and moving forward," he says. Since then, the Trepecks formed Uptown Theatres and have negotiated a rent deal with Mr. Fuller for an undisclosed amount. Commercially and aestheti- cally, the Trepeck endeavor melds the old and new, anti- quated and chic. Uptown archi- tect Saroki used an archival photo to replicate the building's original look. The marquee will be exactly as it was in 1927. The ticket booths will be outside the front doors. Inside, escalators will trans- port a constant flow of people from auditoriums upstairs to those down below. Terrazzo floors, grand staircases, huge chandeliers and an oval conces- sion stand will add to what Mr. Saroki describes as an art deco effect. The actual theaters will offer sloped and stadium-style seat- ing. The latter, which is tiered and similar to the ballpark's, is hot in Hollywood right now because it positions viewers higher than or- dinary and makes them feel part of the screen. Handicapped seats and ramps also will be available. As for parking, movie-goers will have access to an existing 900-space structure behind the theater on Peabody Street. A lighted walkway will extend from the parking facility to the theater. The Pier Street structure has been designated for parking, as well. Area vendors express hope over the theater's renaissance. Gail G-otthelf, director of the Prin- cipal Shopping District, believes the multiplex will ultimately give consumers the opportunity to eat, shop and recreate in Birming- ham. "We haven't been known for our evening entertainment. There just hasn't been anything here," Ms. Gotthelf says. "This is an opportunity for people to pack- age their evenings. You can go shopping, go to clinne.-, go to the movies. After the movies, you can go to the coffeehouses, or to a restaurant for an after-dinner drink." Ms. Gotthelf also predicts that shops will stay open later to catch movie-goers before they head home at night. "And, even if they don't enter the stores, window-shopping is still a recreational activity, which might lead to them coming back," she says. Mr. Horton, of the historical "We haven't been known for our evening entertainment." —Gail Gotthelf society, says most people support the multiplex, although some nostalgia remains for the giant theater of 1927. But, with com- petition from nearby towns — Royal Oak and Troy — residents acknowledge the need for a venue in synch with the 21st century. "Everyone is a little sorry to see the auditorium go, because it's the only auditorium of that size in Birmingham. But it just wasn't financially feasible. "On the positive side, the Birmingham restaurateurs are quite pleased. They think it will keep businesses in town. 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