The sign on the wall tells passersby that 129 West First Ave. has a new owner, the Albany Civic Theater. Photo was taken June 11, 2025.
The sad-looking but historic downtown building at 129 W. First Ave. in Albany has been empty for a long time. Now it has a new owner and probably won’t be empty and unused for long.
I’ve written about this property several times since its front wall threatened to collapse during an attempted remodeling in 2016. If you want the background, it was summarized here.
For the last year or two, there was a f0r-sign in the window. More recently the sign was gone, and this week I finally looked it up: In February, the Albany Civic Theater, which is next door, bought the property for $300,000 from the Salem-based Jesus Revival Association.
The church had bought the place in 2018 for $175,000 but never put it to use.
Jesus Revival tried to have the building exempted from property taxes as a church. The Linn County assessor said no, but the taxes went unpaid year after year.
Now the taxes are paid up, according to county records online. The City of Albany had liens totaling more than half a million dollars on the building for years of unrepaired code violations, but I assume the liens were forgiven with the purchase by the theater.
What happens next?
Oregon Heritage, a division of the state parks department, has just awarded the Albany Downtown Association a $400,000 “Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant.”
The money is to be used to fix up the building holding both the theater and the building next door.
If the theater has announced what it wants to do with the vacant building, and when, I haven’t seen the announcement.
Many of us go by there on the Ellsworth Street Bridge every day, so we’ll see any changes when they take place. (hh)
Now this is ‘entertaining’!!
That was once a bar, I don’t recall the name it was so long ago. I think it closed in the 80s. When I was in “The Sound of Music” in 1969, the adults in our cast would walk behind the Civic Theatre to the back door of the bar, both before and after rehearsals and the show. It was a great theatre hangout place. LOL! We also had a rental building just to the left of the theatre which we used for makeup and so forth. I think that is now already owned by the theatre
The bar was called the First Round for a long time. Many rehearsals ended there with music trivia night. Fun times…
Hmmm…a $400,000 grant from Oregon Heritage, a program created by the state and initially funded from the sale of lottery bonds.
Now, the program is funded by the state legislature. In other words, taxpayer money.
I loved ACT. It’s all-volunteer and a non-profit. I paid to see shows there for many years and enjoyed it.
But why should every Oregon resident be forced to fork over money to ACT?
Local theater is not an ‘essential service’ that should be funded by taxpayers.
The “arts” are as much an essential service as are parks, libraries, etc. Communities that divest themselves of “arts” become very sterile environments I sure would not want to live in any of them.
Agree! I compare this to schools that take out electives and only offer the required courses.
It should be noted that ACT has a thriving youth program that offers education in both theater. Every year there’s a summer camp that provides education in everything from how to audition to performances. For kids ages 8-18, a musical is produced. The youth perform on stage, learn how to run the technical side of the show and help make props and dress the set. They are involved in all aspects of the show. This education is particularly important with schools cutting this invaluable curriculum.
MYOB. Stick to North Carolina, where you live.
There is no residency requirement for expressing opinions on this site. We welcome comments from around the country and the world.
It should be pointed out that Gordon lives in North Carolina. As such he really doesn’t have any “skin in the game” as far as Albany is concerned, so his comments should not receive the same weight as those of area residents.
He did live here and was active in saving the taxpayer money when he did, I do not always agree with everything he says, but he knows the city far better than most folks and has a valuable perspective.
Perhaps elected representatives make this choice for us – like, that’s their job, right – we elect them – they decide.
Wasn’t it called the Westerner?
It had several names over the years.
I believe it was Gary and Carol’s in the 70’s
Since some commenters were asking about what used to be in this building, here is a mostly complete list of businesses that were in the western 2/3 of the 1923 Burggraf building that ACT recently purchased.
1923-29 Barrett Farm Implements
1929-30 Magneto Electric (Car Engine/Battery Service)
Transferred to the service station in the current parking lot in 1930
1930-32 Kellogg Chevrolet
1932-35 McAlpin Café/BBQ/Bus Depot/Pool Hall/Confectionary
1935-38 Nedry’s Red Top BBQ
1940-45 5 and 10 Dinette
1946-54 Lewis and Brown Café, Tavern & Doghouse Nightclub
1955-64 El Rancho Restaurant
1965-72, 1974-1976, 1980-87 The Westerner Lounge
1972-74 Magoo’s Tavern
1976-79 Gary and Carol’s
1987-89 The Beachcomber
1989 Main Gate (Teen Rock and Roll Club)
1990-2007 The First Round Pub and Grill
2007-2011 Bogey’s Bar and Grill
2011-13 American Legion Post 10
2014-16 Espolon Restaurante (Closed due to front wall damage)
2018-2025 Jesus Revival Assoc. (Vacant)
2025-Albany Civic Theater
Wow! Thanks a lot!
Impressive list. 100 years — a lot of businesses have come/gone in that location. Thanks for sharing this info with those of us who find “history” of any kind most interesting.
Ray residents need safe, clean and livable conditions. Albany does not promote any of those things unless you have the money to buy the more expensive homes and apartments. Working people do not have the funds or the time to enjoy the arts that require money. We enjoy nature, good friends and the ability to pay our own way. The city crushes the working people under the weight of improving the city for the wealthier people to enjoy. The library was in danger of closing, they closed a preschool and even dismantled the small water feature at a small park. They spent a huge amount of money for the larger water feature at Monteith park. The trees we enjoyed are gone. We don’t get to enjoy the newly stone paved street or any of the places the city has “improved”. Our environment is made sterile by many of the city’s choices but you expect us to pay for your enjoyment of life. I guess you don’t want any of us to want to live here. You don’t even want us to have homes or decent jobs, just our slave labor.
Sam, we do vote for people who claim they will do what is right and they do not follow through. We have the right to call them on their “bait and switch” just to get us to vote for them then do the exact opposite.
Your constant diatribes might go farther if you actally engaged with your 2 councilors to attempt to get “your” views a higher place on the menu. . They do/will answer emails & phone calls… Using your real name helps.
As far as I know driving down to first Street will still be free, just as it’s always been.
Roger, it is not free. We have paid for and still are paying for the city’s useless projects. The working class, elderly and low income people usually spend every cent they have on necessities. Most of us spend very little of our income anywhere else other than supporting the local economy and the city. The only time I have ever used that street is to work for someone that lives better than I do. It is not intelligent to insult the people who fund other people’s indulgent lifestyle and expect them to be grateful for just surviving.
I’m sure there are streets in the city that my tax dollars help build/maintain, that you drive on and I do not. You’re welcome, Chris.
Roger, So you are to blame for the damage to my tires and rims! lol. It is awfully nice of you to take the responsibility off of the city. It was over $1000 plus bucks for my last encounter with one of the potholes you pay to maintain. Sorry, I won’t thank you for that.
Chris you are a Hoot. Thanks for the biggest laugh I’ve had in years.
The rehabilitation of the building is terrific news and will be much appreciated by the local community. Our law office is located across the street and we are active supporters of ACT. Our park across the street is a common gathering place for ACT patrons and the public.
Thanks Mike.
We appreciate the things that you and your firm have done for the community in the past 150 years.