GRACE — The former Grace Theater is getting a second act thanks to a local couple.

Mike and Samantha Coburn are bringing new life to the long-neglected Main Street building, transforming a piece of community history into a multi-use space that they hope will create new memories while honoring the old ones.

The theater holds countless memories for many in Grace. The Coburns hope their restoration project will do the same for generations to come and expect the work to be completed by June.

Their path to the project began practically enough. The couple was searching for a large space to expand their growing packaging business, which had long outgrown their garage. With Mike owning a construction business, building new would have been easier and more cost-effective. But something about the old theater pulled them in.

"We originally looked at it knowing we needed a big open space for our packaging business," Samantha said. "But there were probably much easier and cheaper options if that was the only goal. What really drew us in was the ability to make it into a multi-use space."

The vision grew from there. The former seating area and stage are being converted into warehouse and shipping operations. The old entryway and side rooms will house two clinic spaces and an optional classroom. The upstairs apartment and reel room will become a theater-themed Airbnb for visitors.

The clinic rooms will be home to Nature's Grace Precision Health, operated by Samantha and her mother, Patty Ackerman, who recently launched a private practice as a doctor of nursing. Samantha is also starting a business as a board-certified nurse coach.

The additional classroom and clinic room will be available for rent on a flexible basis for small business owners who need only occasional workspace.

Grace has limited lodging options, particularly for families visiting the area. The Coburns hope the apartment will offer a unique place to stay while celebrating the building's past. Plans include decorating the space with movie theater memorabilia, providing movies and games and incorporating a popcorn machine. They also plan to include information about local attractions to encourage visitors to explore the town.

Connection to the community played a central role in the Coburns' decision to take on the project.

"We were both intrigued by the history of the building even before we were able to walk through it," Samantha said. "More than anything, we're passionate about holding onto the town's history and helping keep Grace's Main Street alive."

The building had solid bones but needed significant work. The roof had begun separating from the back of the structure, allowing weather damage to reach the interior. During a walkthrough before the purchase, Mike fell through part of the floor.

He jokes now that it was in just bad enough shape he had hoped it would be.

Repairing the roof became the first priority.

"The biggest hurdle was racing the weather to get the roof on," Samantha said. "We were very blessed that the winter has been so mild. It definitely made getting the roof fixed and making progress much easier."

The new warehouse space will streamline shipping operations and provide room for future growth. The Coburns hope it will also create flexible job opportunities in the community.

"We hope it can fill the need for part-time flexible jobs," Samantha said. "We see moms, high school students and young adults between high school, missions and college as ideal employees."

Community response to the renovation has been overwhelmingly positive.

"Everyone we've talked to has been really excited about what we're doing," Samantha said. "People are happy to see more life coming to Main Street and an old building being saved."

Some residents have expressed nostalgia for the theater's original purpose, but the Coburns say reviving it as a traditional movie theater simply wouldn't be sustainable.

Instead, they hope the restoration represents something equally meaningful.

"We hope it represents keeping our town thriving — by bringing jobs to the community and welcoming visitors to our beautiful town," Samantha said.