City of Rochester Makes Bid for Historic Theater

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) - The city of Rochester is making a $6 million bid to buy a historic downtown theater.

Rochester officials announced plans Monday to buy the Chateau Theatre. The Mayo Clinic will kick in $500,000 to the city's bid.

The building opened in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For 15 years, the building housed a Barnes and Noble bookstore, which closed in December.

Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede says many people have said they want to see the Chateau preserved.

Reports say the City Council is expected to vote on the purchase at its April 6 meeting.

Rochester is in the early stages of a 20-year, nearly $6 billion transformation of its downtown to support Mayo Clinic's own expansion in the city.