Roxian Theatre

Roxian Theatre

The Roxian is a game changer for the Sto-Rox community — and proof that McKees Rocks is back on the map.

The long-awaited promise of a mid-size live-music venue in McKees Rocks became reality in May 2019, when the restored Roxian Theatre launched to the public with a series of free open-house shows. At an estimated 1,400+ capacity, the Roxian fills a real gap in Pittsburgh’s music market — attracting touring acts that had been bypassing the region — with general admission, mezzanine seating, VIP areas, and craft beer throughout.

Call To Action

1,400+ capacity theatre that put McKees Rocks back on the map

From the CDC’s hands to a regional draw

The Roxian’s revival is a model of how the McKees Rocks CDC works: take on a seemingly impossible project, assemble the complex public-and-private financing to de-risk it, and hand it to operators who can make it thrive.

Lawrenceville entrepreneur John Pergal and partners — owners of the Thunderbird Café & Music Hall — purchased the historic theatre from the CDC in late 2017 and closed on the $9 million project in December 2017. The financing stack tells the story of what it takes:

~$1.4M
in recoverable loans from the MRCDC, drawn from grants by the Hillman Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, and LISC
$5M
in loans from the Reinvestment Fund, Bridgeway Capital, and LISC
$600K
from the sale of federal historic tax credits
$2M
in private equity
10 year
LERTA tax abatement from McKees Rocks Borough and the Sto-Rox School District
Restoration of the 1929 vaudeville-era building wrapped in May 2019.

Why it Matters

The restoration is doing for Chartiers Avenue what the Thunderbird did for Lawrenceville — sparking retail, restaurants, jobs, and visitors. The partners also planned an entertainment-industry apprenticeship program to prepare Sto-Rox residents for employment at the Roxian and beyond, and they encourage local community groups to coordinate on scheduling.

  • “It’s hard to believe we’re here. There were a lot of times that it seemed the cause was lost, but we hung on because we knew what it would mean to the community. Fifty years of decline ends today.”
    Taris Vrcek
    Executive Director, MRCDC

Plan Your Visit

The Roxian Theatre is independently operated. For show listings, tickets, and venue information, visit the Roxian’s official website and box office.

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