Quiet since the pandemic, Mavricks Music Hall in downtown Barrie remains dark.
A 'for lease' sign hangs near the facility at 46 Dunlop St. W.
Coun. Craig Nixon, who represents the downtown, says the former nightclub could still play a role in the area’s revitalization.
“Having Mavricks open and providing another venue for shows or concerts would obviously be a big boost to the downtown area and the city,” he said. “I would assume that the current owner has considered whether doing so is viable, and the costs involved in refurbishing and/or retrofitting.”
Despite repeated efforts, BarrieToday was unable to get in touch with Mavricks' current owners.
Opened in 1931, for about 50 years it was a 700-seat movie theatre. It was called The Roxy and Sound Empire, then from 1988 to 2012 it was The Roxx nightclub, and featured both all-ages events and regular bar nights.
The venue has been known as Mavricks since 2016, specializing in concerts and other live events.
Big names who have graced the Dunlop Street venue's stage include Max Webster (featuring Kim Mitchell), The Headstones, Trooper, Our Lady Peace, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Aaron Pritchett and Method Man. One of rap music’s legendary record spinners even made frequent stops. For several years, DJ Jazzy Jeff hosted a Halloween show called A Nightmare on Dunlop Street.
Sold in 2017, it went quiet near the time the pandemic hit in early 2020.
Still, the theatre sits idle, its future unknown.
The Mavricks building is neither a designated cultural heritage property nor a listed cultural heritage property with the city.
Using Mavricks Music Hall as Barrie’s new performing arts centre is an idea that has been floated by BarrieToday columnist Barry Ward.
Nixon says he's uncertain that would work.
“The size and seating capacity appears to be considerably smaller than what has been considered for the performing arts centre," he said. "However, it could certainly be used for other smaller events."
The former Barrie Central Collegiate site might also be the future location of a new performing arts centre (PAC), on the demolished W. A. Fisher auditorium site on Dunlop Street West.
The last city council’s PAC task force preferred the old Fisher site, although no decision was made.
“Yes it did, however much has changed since the PAC task force submission,” Nixon said.
Barrie’s 10-year capital plan includes forecasted funding for a performing arts centre with a total allocation of $36 million, with the majority of funding projected in the years 2025 to 2028.
Council approves the 10-year capital budget on an annual basis, but it’s subject to change. The city had $5 million in its theatre reserve fund at the end of last year, with another $2.5 million going in this year.
The city’s PAC task force has recommended a maximum $53.1-million, 66,500-square-foot facility with 900- and 350-seat theatres, plus a 5,000-sq.-ft. multi-purpose room.
But last spring an open house was held in Barrie for what’s called a community cultural hub. It would prioritize a diverse range of uses and regular programming, rather than relying solely on a traditional retail entertainment centre model, and be more widely accessible — as it would operate all day long, not just at performance time.
The hub would feature a central commons area, a mid-size, 600-seat theatre, a recital hall, a screening room, multiple teaching and learning spaces, as well as arts offices.
“We are currently waiting for the results of a study being prepared by a consulting company that will provide some options for (Barrie city) council to consider,” Nixon said, also acknowledging the theatre reserve fund. “However, it will take additional funding by the province and the federal government and possibly some private funding/fundraising in order to make it a reality.”
Building and funding a community cultural hub, or new performing arts centre, has not been debated by this Barrie city council, which was elected in October 2022.
Just across the street from Mavricks is evidence of Barrie’s growth, and the downtown’s future.
The first of two 32-storey towers is being constructed, part of a mixed-use development to comprise 495 units, including a six-storey podium with ground floor retail/commercial uses at street level and parking on levels 2-6.
The highrise development includes a pedestrian arcade that will connect the Dunlop Street front of the towers with the existing transportation terminal and waterfront.
