NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The historic Riviera Theatre will now be known as the West Herr Riviera Theatre.
The announcement was made Thursday by bard President Larry Denef and West Herr President and CEO Scott Beiler.
Denef says the partnership will help the I continue to enhance the dream of the theatre's original owners Henry
Henschel and Max Yellen.
"To have our name associated with a name as iconic as the Riviera Theatre is truly something I never thought would happen feel blessed that everyone in our company feels blessed to have this association with this iconic theatre that will hopefully go on for many, many, many years.
In February, we got an update on the current renovation project at the theatre.
There will be a new entrance and new space off the lobby for concessions. The current snack stand was built in the 1940s. There will also be an outdoor patio, bigger bathrooms, and wheelchair ramps.
The work should wrap up by the spring.
"There will be a bar with a new concession area on the very end," said Larry Denef, the Riviera Theatre board chair. "We will have our wall of guitars, which we've had. All of the artist that come into the theatre sign a guitar, they'll be on those walls."
Later this year they'll add four new dressing rooms and a green room that could attract new acts. The board chair said in the past, some artists have refused to book a show because of the talent space in the basement.
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