The man who bought the Peoples Theater in 2006 says he has not given up on renovating the venue.

Eric Bowman, a New Jersey attorney, said in a telephone interview with The Spin yesterday he plans to seek grant funding next year to fund restoration. He also plans to fix two other buildings he bought on Roanoke Avenue and use them as shell buildings, buildings designed to lure potential businesses into them.

Bowman, a real estate attorney who bought the theater when he was in Arizona, said problems with the Roanoke Rapids Theatre and the slow growth of Carolina Crossroads deterred immediate plans to restore the theater. “I sat back a little bit because of the recession and the economy,” he said. “I love this little old town.”

The building is in poor condition. At the time Bowman bought the the theater, there was a crew working to weatherproof the building. Repairs at the time were also done to fix holes in the roof that left the stage exposed. Water had to be pumped out of the flooded orchestra pit.

On a recent visit to Myrtle Beach he stopped to look at his property. He said he noticed how business in the shops off Premier Boulevard was brisk. Chick-fil-A was packed. He wants to see the same thing happen for the Avenue.

Bowman considered applying for a grant soon after he bought the building but learned another project was seeking funds so he backed off. That project, however, never received funds. With hopes the economy will turn in 2010, he plans to apply for Rural Center funds and other available grants which could help him renovate the theater.

He also owns the salon/radio station building and plans to put in what he calls a nice glass front for that to draw potential businesses to that area of the Avenue.

He still plans to restore the theater to bring in musical acts and show films. “I want to renovate that old building,” he said.

Now comes the waiting.

Today officials from the Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance gave Liz Parham and Teresa Watts a tour of Roanoke Avenue and then had lunch with them.

Parham is director of Urban Development for the North Carolina Department of Commerce and Watts is the director of the North Carolina Main Street Program,

Together, they will make recommendations to Gov. Beverly Perdue which could ultimately land Roanoke Rapids in the Main Street program. Inclusion in the North Carolina Main Street Program  could help improve the business district through local and business participation, volunteer efforts, grant and state funding.

The bus tour of the Avenue, led by businessman Phil Hux, took the state representatives and other officials sightseeing on the avenue. Hux showed them several historic buildings, including the train depot at the intersection of Julian R. Allsbrook Highway and the Avenue.

Hux told the state officials there is a movement to buy the depot where passenger trains once stopped “and work something out with the (Halifax County) arts council.”

He talked about the Rosemary mill, part of it being demolished. There is interest in finding someone who can do something with the plant, he said.

The tour also included peeks at some of the kit homes in the city along with a stop at the Roanoke Canal Trail and Museum.

The banquet room at david’s restaurant on the Avenue was nearly packed for lunch and a brief talk from Parham and Watts.

Parham explained the Main Street program deals with economic development with a historical perspective, focusing on culture, environment and heritage. “The human resources you bring to the table is exciting,” she said.

Kim Simpson, president of the alliance, said officials now know the city is competing with Garner, Kings Mountain, Davidson. and another city. “We’re the only one in the east,” she said. At least two of the cities will be selected.

Simpson said she didn’t know how being the only city in the east would bode for Roanoke Rapids. “When you look at the map, there’s a big hole in the east. They were impressed with the town and the involvement of a number of people.”

A final decision will be made by the middle of October.