Reopening of historic theater is latest gift from Little Falls couple to the community

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — If Hollywood arrived in Little Falls, Minnesota, it'd find a sweet story at the local theater.

“It was built in 1933,” Susy Prosapio says.

For nearly 90 years, the Falls Theatre was downtown Little Falls' centerstage. The community grieved its downfall.

“It closed July 16 of 2020,” Susy says. “During the height of COVID,” adds Susy’s husband, Phil Prosapio.

Three years later, Susy and Phil are bringing it back as the theater’s new owners.  The Falls’ exterior features a fresh coat of paint, with flashing lights and neon on the way.  Inside, a rotted ceiling has been replaced.  The theater’s three auditoriums await new seats and decor.  In an adjacent building, the Prosapios will open a restaurant and bar.  If all goes as planned, Susy and Phil hope to start welcoming customers by Labor Day weekend.  

“It’s a lot of fun,” Susy says.

A local couple stepping up to save a crumbling downtown icon would be newsworthy in itself.  But this isn’t the first time.

“We are at the Shoppes of Little Falls,” says Susy, as she and Phil prepare to enter the building across the street from the theater.

The former appliance store had been sitting empty for three years when Susy and Phil bought it.  The couple filled the empty space with micro shops for 25 artisans and vendors.

Three years later, having outgrown their original space, the Prosapios purchased the building next door, a former bridal shop, which was also sitting empty.  Today, the combined buildings are filled with 90 small shops, bringing shoppers downtown to browse through handmade jewelry, soaps, clothing, and a variety of other goods.

Like a lot of small-town main streets, Little Falls' took its lumps. 

Watch the video or read the full article here.