About the Landis Theater

Advisory Board Members: Lori DiMatteo-Fiocchi, Board President Hans Lampart, President Eastern Pacific Development Michael Testa, Sr., Basile and Testa Kimberly Chapman, Artistic Co-Director, Vineland Regional Dance Company Lisa Chappius, President, Cumberland Players Rick Linn, Bay Atlantic Symphony, Delaware Symphony Mark Melamed, The Gabriel Project Mike Dano, Creative Entertainment Group John Pederson Architects, consultants

In 2005 the City of Vineland acquired possession of the Landis Theatre / Mori Brothers building complex on the corner of Landis and East Avenues.

In 2006 the City of Vineland requested proposals for a major redevelopment of the eastern gate to its downtown business district. The redevelopment proposal encompassed all four corners of Landis and East Avenues including the Landis Theatre / Mori Brothers building complex.

In February 2007 the project was awarded to Eastern Pacific Development. The approved proposal called for the theatre to be rehabilitated into a community multi-purpose performing arts center. The approved use for main floor of the Mori building is an upscale restaurant while the second floor is to be dedicated to office rental space. Additionally, the proposal included a two-story addition to the rear of the Mori building to provide a main entrance and vertical circulation to the second floor office component.

The proposed rehabilitation of the complex involves altering secondary spaces within the theatre with primary focus on providing code compliant restrooms. The lobby and foyer spaces are to remain mostly intact. Code compliant access to the second floor is to be constructed between the inner foyer and the main auditorium in the form of an open stairwell to the west and an elevator to the east side. A new concession area will be constructed at the center of this dividing wall, absorbing space from the main auditorium.

The existing stage is inadequate for the theatre to serve as a performing arts center. Renovations to this area include relocating the proscenium and extending the stage into the main auditorium. Additionally the exterior alcove to the west of the existing stage will be infilled to provide a loading dock. Additional backstage requirements will be provided in the main floor of the proposed addition to the rear of the Mori building.

With the proposed alterations described above, the auditorium seating will be reduced from 800 existing seats to approximately 650 seats. The existing floor slope is to be altered to accommodate the renovations and maintain proper sight lines.

The second floor the theatre is to be redesigned to provide two private seating balconies flanking a central projection / sound booth. Two toilet rooms and a private office are also included in the redesign. A secondary means of egress from the space will be provided through a new stairwell located in the adjacent Mori building.

The Mori building’s main floor’s primary use was a car dealership with the majority of the space dedicated to the service garages. The second floor consisted of offices in the front portion of the space with open office areas making up the rest of the floor. Access to the second floor is limited as the floor systems are structurally unsound. The interior of the Mori building is to be gutted on both floors due to the dilapidated state of the interiors and the need to replace the structural components of both the second floor and the roof. The primary use of the main floor is proposed to be an up scale restaurant with banquet room. The second floor is to be dedicated for office space. A two-story addition at the rear of the Mori building is to be constructed to compliment the existing Art Moderne architecture. This addition will provide a main entrance for the second floor including an open stairwell and elevator. As stated above, the remainder of the main floor of the addition is to be dedicated to additional back stage spaces for the adjacent theatre.

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