After an outpouring of support, the Chelsea Theater will continue operating under new ownership.
The future of the small theater in Chapel Hill was in question when the current owner announced late last year that he would not be renewing the theater’s lease and, unless new ownership was identified, the theater located in Timberlyne Shopping Center would be closing.
That inspired some local residents to gauge community interest in keeping the theater open and possibly changing to a non-profit model. That group announced on Thursday that they had reached an agreement with the current owner to take over operations of the Chelsea effective March 30.
“We expect a seamless transition,” president of the Save the Chelsea organization Tom Henkel said in a release. “Film goers can anticipate that we will begin to introduce a few new things immediately—such as a membership program with discounts on tickets, but we plan to move deliberately and gather input from our audiences.”
The group received an overwhelmingly supportive response, Henkel said, to a community survey put out with intentions to see if there would be community interest in keeping the theater open. And the organizers parlayed that support into nearly $80,000, as of Friday afternoon. They had set a goal of raising $150,000 to cover the group’s goals for the first year of operation.
Theater leadership say that the Chelsea will continue showing “first run, independent, documentary, and specialty films” as patrons are accustomed to seeing. But they add that the theater “plans to add new offerings, such as film-related discussions, showings by area filmmakers and classic films.”
Officials from the new ownership group say they have the support of the previous owners in the new venture.
The public will have a chance to weigh in on the future of the theater at a community meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 4, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Flyleaf Books.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Local Group Considering Effort to Save Chapel Hill's Chelsea TheaterLocal residents are mulling an attempt to save a Chapel Hill theater. Ownership of the Chelsea Theater in Timberlyne Shopping Center said in November that the future of the theater famous for showing independent films for nearly three decades was up in the air. “Now in the last year of our current 5 year lease, […]
![]()
Future of Chelsea Theater UncertainWith the end of the Chelsea Theater’s current five-year lease looming, the future of the Chapel Hill stalwart for independent films remains uncertain. The theater released a statement suggesting that its current owner Bruce Stone may be nearing retirement. “On November 16 we will have started our 28th year of operation. Now in the last […]
![]()
The 5:00 News - Local Government Meetings, Overdose Awareness, Chapel Hill BudgetThe Hill's Andrew Stuckey presents the afternoon news. Included in this edition of the news, we check our local government meeting schedule, including the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners. We hear a story on Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell helping prevent an overdose death. We hear from Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Amy Ryan on the Budget, and more.

Chapel Hill Police: Missing Teen Safely LocatedUPDATE: Chapel Hill Police shared an alert Sunday morning that Kaydin Shelton has been safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing teenager. Police say 15-year-old Kaydin Shelton of Chapel Hill was last seen just before midnight Saturday night in the area of Legion Road and Ephesus […]
![]()
The 5:00 News - Drowning in Chatham, Chapel Hill Budget, State Housing BillThe Hill's Andrew Stuckey presents the afternoon news. Included in this edition of the news, we hear of a tragic drowning in Chatham County near the B. Everett Jordan Dam. We also hear of Chatham County Commissioners plan to honor George Moses Horton along 15-501 through the county. We hear about the Chapel Hill Town Council narrowly passing their budget, a new housing bill going through the statehouse, and more. In sports we hear from UNC football safety Will Hardy, and more.
![]()
Chapel Hill: Budget Narrowly Passes, Juneteenth, Upcoming EventsChapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Amy Ryan spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, June 20. She discussed yesterday's Juneteenth celebration in Carrboro, which was combined celebration for the two towns. She also discussed the town budget, which narrowly passed the town council in a vote on Wednesday. She discussed the challenges the budget process posed, and how that may affect future budgets. She also previewed some upcoming community events, and more.

White Sauce Grill & Bar Now Open on West Franklin StreetWhite Sauce Grill & Bar, which offers Mediterranean gyros and platters, is now open at 104 West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. The restaurant moved into the space previously occupied by Trolly Stop Hot Dogs & Grill, which closed in October of 2023. The space – located between I Love N.Y. Pizza and Ben […]
![]()
The 5:00 News - 828 MLK, Orange County Budget, JuneteenthThe Hill's Andrew Stuckey presents the afternoon news. Included in this edition of the news, we learn the latest on the Town's efforts to remediate coal ash at 828 MLK Jr. Blvd. We also hear details on the recently passed Orange County Budget, the latest on an affordable housing project coming to Hillsborough, and details on Chapel Hill and Carrboro's Juneteenth celebration on Thursday. In sports, the UNC Women's Basketball team adds another player to next year's roster, several athletes get individual honors, and more.

Chapel Hill’s Weavers Grove Welcomes First Residents, Offering a Vision of Inclusive HomeownershipWeavers Grove, the long-anticipated mixed-income community spearheaded by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, is officially coming to life in Chapel Hill.

Talking Culture: Elizabeth Woodman Asks, 'Who Killed Rachel Crook?'Aaron welcomes Elizabeth Woodman, creator of the "27 Views" podcast - whose latest installment explores a still-unsolved 1951 local murder.
›
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines