A:  The Simon was designed in 1925 by one of Texas’ most renowned architects, Alfred C. Finn.  Finn is known as the “builder of Houston.” He was Jesse Jones’ principal architect. He designed downtown Houston’s Gulf Building, the Rice Hotel, Hermann Hospital, the San Jacinto Monument, and a long list of other landmark buildings.  Locally, the Citadel (on Hwy. 290, originally the Brenham Country Club) was designed by Finn, and so was the historic Hasskarl home, currently Far View Bed & Breakfast (S. Park Street at Lubbock).   

Finn built five other famous downtown movie houses in the early 1900’s (in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth).  Now only the Simon remains.  All others have been closed and demolished.  History and theatre buffs nationwide mourn their loss.  Our community has a responsibility to save Finn’s “last picture show” in Texas. 

The Simon is also the centerpiece of the Downtown Brenham National Register Historic District.  After its successful restoration, it will bring statewide and national attention to our community. 

Q:  Who is paying for the restoration and development of the Simon Center?   

A: The money to complete this project is being raised from grants from foundations, corporations and local businesses, and also from donations from residents and private individuals interested in economic development and historic preservation.  The City of Brenham and Washington County both contributed seed money to help get the project off the ground.  Those dollars were investments in the economic development of this community, and willperpetually return to the city and county in the form of sales tax revenue and hotel occupancy tax dollars.

Q:  Will the City and/or County use residents’ tax dollars to pay for this project? 

A:  No, as stated above, the funds contributed by the city and county were early lead gifts.  This is not a city or county sponsored project.  Though in many cities across the U.S., historic downtown buildings are taken over and funded by city governments, in Brenham the Simon Center will be self-sufficient.  The Center has a business plan that outlines how it will produce revenue from facility rentals and in-house programming (box office ticket sales).  To complement this revenue, there will be on-going assistance from foundation grants, hotel occupancy tax dollars, and the Friends of the Simon Center membership. 

Q:  Will the City end up running the Simon Center? 

A:  Currently, the plans are the Simon will be run by an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.  This non-profit will be led by a volunteer board from the community.  They will therefore be able to seek grants from foundations and corporations for the on-going operation of the Simon Center that a city entity could not.  Similar organizations in the community are Unity Theatre and the Heritage Society of Washington County (that operates the Giddings-Stone Mansion) and also the Opera House in Columbus, Texas.  This model works successfully all across the nation in historic cities such as Galveston, Fredericksburg and San Antonio. 

Q:  Are the people leading this campaign going to make money off this project? 

A:  No, absolutely not.  The board members of Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation Inc. and the dozens of other volunteers on the SOS steering committee have given money to this project. They will not see a penny of profit from their donations.  It is not their purpose and it would violate the charter of the non-profit organization.  They are giving both money and time for the betterment of the community.  All monies generated by the operation of the Simon Center will go back into the on-going operations and preservation of the property. 

Q:  Will the Simon Center take the place of building a full-scale convention center in Brenham? 

A:  No, the Simon Center does not replace the need for a large convention center in Brenham.  It is not intended to be in that league.  It will be equipped to serve small conferences, business retreats and association meetings that involve groups ranging in size from 15 people up to 150 (estimated).  It will serve as a "bridge" between the present facilities available in Brenham (there are no others that provide large meeting space, dining space, and break-out rooms all in one building) and the future when a full-scale convention center is built.

Q:  Will the Chamber of Commerce, CVB and EDF move into the Simon Center? 

A:   The concept was discussed early on of the Simon Center being a central office building for the Chamber, CVB, EDF, and Main Street.  However, after the professional business plan was developed that recommends a small conference/event center, it has been determined that there is not enough square footage on the first floor to accommodate all of those organizations.  As much of the first floor as possible needs to be preserved for meeting space rentals.  Current plans include retail space and a beautiful ground floor Visitor Center for the CVB/Visitor Center staff to provide services to meetings, tour groups, and individual tourists. 

Q:  The Simon Theatre was a place where black people and white people were segregated.  Some people have negative feelings about that.  Shouldn’t we just let it be torn down? 

A:  No, that would be like trying to erase history.  Segregation was a painful era, but it is a real part of the heritage of African-American people.  Before the civil rights movement, segregation took place at theatres and also at courthouses, on buses, at restaurants, at hotels, and at many other places of business.  The Simon Theater happens to have a physical structure that still remains from that era.  The best way future generations can avoid making the same mistakes of the past is to learn from history.  We can help teach a new generation about the transition our society has made from segregation to civil rights.  A research project will be conducted to determine how best to preserve, display and interpret the “colored” entrance and seating area at the Simon Theatre.  Oral histories will be gathered from African-American elders in our community.  After restoration, a plaque describing “Segregation in Small-Town Texas” will be displayed at the former entrance door. 

 Q:  What activities will be held at the Simon that local people can attend and enjoy? 

A:  The Simon Center will be the location of many fabulous wedding receptions, family reunions, parties and dances. You’ll be able to rent it yourself or attend as a guest.  It will also be a place where people can go to see great classic movies, art films, foreign films, children’s films, travelogues, and other entertainment not currently available in the community.  A variety of special interest shows (for example on quilts, coins, scrapbooks or technology) will be hosted there for the public to attend and enjoy.  The Simon Center will also have a Visitor Center on the street level next to the lobby where you can stop to enjoy a snack from the retail space serving concessions and pick up the latest information about area events and attractions.  Plans include a free movie to be shown in the theatre during non-rental times on local history and attractions. This will be a great asset to newcomers to the community and for local people with visiting friends and relatives. 

Q:  When will all this happen?  When will the Simon Center be open to the public?

 A: The first phase began in fall of 2008 with the replacement of the roof and to restore the front façade to the original.  The new marquee and lighted sign were lit during a ceremony in November 2009 and remains lighted each night. Phase II has begun which will include a state of the art Visitor Center, Lobby and office space on the first floor. Completion of Phase II was realized on November 15, 2010 when the Lobby, Independence Coffee Shop and the new state of the art Visitor Center was unveiled.  When the balance for the building is raised which includes the theatre and ballroom, look for the grand opening of the Simon for meetings, events and movies.