Restoration of the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks is expected to start in 60 days, and the facility could be available for concert bookings and other entertainment events by spring 2010.

The sign on the building still says "Emerald Room." That's the most recent name that would be recognized by residents and people who traveled to McKees Rocks to attend concerts and banquets there.

The Emerald Room, a concert venue, shut down about four years ago and the building has been vacant.

The building was erected in 1928 and served as the Roxian Theater until the late 1970s. It will be restored to its original name and purpose so it can host concert audiences up to 1,500 people.

The Roxian Theater is one of the centerpieces of the redevelopment plan that was adopted in 2003, said Taris Vrcek, executive director of the McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation.

The other piece is the $4.1 million Father Ryan Arts Center, which opened Oct. 4 at 420 Chartiers Ave., across the street from the Roxian. That 80-year old renovated building had been a furniture store and warehouse.

Chartiers Avenue, which also is Route 51, is the main drag of McKees Rocks and the heart of its business district.

In May, the McKees Rocks council unanimously voted to enact an agreement that will enable disbursement of a $500,000 Department of Community and Economic Development grant to restore the theater.

The McKees Rocks CDC will own the Roxian by the time it opens, Mr. Vrcek said, and will lease the facility to Andrew Hieber, who will operate it.

Mr. Hieber is a McKees Rocks native who now lives in Moon. He said he ran a gym for several years and currently runs a trucking company in Monroeville.

The old building is sound, with no major internal or exterior damage, Mr. Hieber said. The roof is in good shape and, though the building has been vacant, it has not been vandalized.

The original stage -- believed to have been used for vaudeville acts -- is intact.

In its earliest years the Roxian was a single-screen movie theatre, as evidenced by the old movie projector that sits in a small projection room up behind the balcony. The date 1931 is on the piece of equipment.

In the future, the Roxian could be used for film festivals, Mr. Vrcek suggests

The balcony has 208 seats, but they're old and too narrow for current daytime theater-goers, Mr. Vrcek said. When they're replaced with wider seats, that will reduce the seating capacity. That should make it a good size for live local and regional acts, he said.

"There are theaters in the area that are bigger, and theaters that are smaller," Mr. Vrcek said. "This could fill a niche."

The seats on the ground floor of the theater have been removed to accommodate parties and banquets.

Scott Baker, president of the CDC, said his family, which owned and operated Jenny Lee Bakery from 1938 to Aug. 2008, had employee appreciation parties there.

"My heritage is here in McKees Rocks," said Mr. Baker, who now lives in Zelienople because, he said, "my wife has horses."

The open-floor plan on the ground floor will be retained, Mr. Vrcek said, which will make the theater available for a wide array of events.

Seats can be placed on the ground floor for a concert, or the space can be set up to accommodate tables for dinner theater productions. It also could be used for banquets, dances, parties and wedding receptions.

Three to four times each month, the Roxian will be available to Focus on Renewal, the 40-year-old organization that owns and operates the arts center, a health center and many other services. Once a month the Roxian will be available to the McKees Rocks CDC.