IOKA in the News
Follow our quest! You can find articles tracking our progress in the following publications:
IOKA in the Portsmouth Herald News
October 06, 2009
Two investors eyeing Ioka business plan
Investors lined up to hear Ioka pitch
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
Ocotber 06, 2009
Though he missed the Sept. 30 deadline, Marc Murai is currently working with two potential investors and said his fight to save the Ioka theater is not over yet.
Murai, a potential buyer for the 93-year-old theater, could not be reached for comment early last week when the deadline hit, but said Monday, Oct. 5, said he is meeting with the two potential investors this weekend when he will formally present them with a business plan. Other than the fact that the investors are local, Murai would not name the interested parties.
"If I can't get these investors signed on by Saturday, or at the very latest Monday, then I finally have to just cut my losses and call it quits," Murai said. "I've invested enough time and money to give it my best."
Since signing an intent to purchase the theater in May, Murai had been working to create a business plan and secure investors behind what he hopes to operate as the Ioka Digital & Performing Arts Center.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
October 02, 2009
Effort to buy Ioka theater fails
Owner says the sales deadline for Marc Murai, who planned to open digital arts center, passed; he is moving on
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
Ocotber 02, 2009
EXETER — Marc Murai, the Ioka theater's potential buyer, missed his Sept. 30 deadline to purchase the 93-year-old town landmark.
Current owner Roger Detzler of Immer Besser LLC said the remaining contents of the theater will be removed, and he has to move forward in finding someone who will purchase the property.
"We regret the unfortunate loss of this popular and historic business to downtown Exeter," Detzler said.
Murai signed a letter of intent to purchase the theater in May, and had been working over the past months to create a business plan and attract investors to come up with the $725,000 purchase price of the building. While Murai was given previous deadlines in July and August, Sept. 30 was his final deadline.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
September 17, 2009
Potential Ioka buyer says Sept. 30 is final deadline for deal
Owner will move on if sales pact isn't signed by Sept. 30
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
September 17, 2009
EXETER — The Ioka theater's potential buyer, Marc Murai, has less than two weeks to sign a purchase-and-sales agreement and secure investors or the building's current owner, Roger Detzler, is moving on.
While Murai was originally working toward deadlines in July and August, which were extended, he said Tuesday his efforts to save the 93-year-old theater are down to the wire, with Sept. 30 being the drop-dead deadline.
"If this building is not purchased by Sept. 30, that is the end of the Ioka theater as we know it," Murai said. "It has reached a critical point."
Murai is now reaching out to investors and holding a sort of town hall forum at 7:22 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Exeter Town Hall. The meeting is pending approval of a permit by the town. Murai is asking anyone interested in investing in the theater to attend the meeting, where he will present his finalized business plan, research that led to it and a detailed account of what the $10,000 "good-faith" deposit on the theater raised by members of the community has gone toward.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
August 05, 2009
No agreement signed four days after Ioka deadline
Possible buyer, seller still negotiating
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
August 05, 2009
EXETER — Negotiations continue between the current and prospective owners of the Ioka theater four days after the deadline to sign the purchase-and-sales agreement.
Marc Murai, who had a July 31 deadline to sign an agreement with the theater's current owner, Roger Detzler of Immer Besser LLC, said Monday, "We're close, very close." On Tuesday, he said work on the agreement is progressing.
On Friday, Murai said he and Immer Besser were resolving final details of the agreement, but he could not make any announcement at the time. Murai would not indicate when the agreement could be finalized or what the hold up is, but said he is not concerned the process is taking longer than expected.
"Immer Besser has been very easy to work with and accommodating," Murai said. "They've been great and very understanding."
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
August 01, 2009
Ioka deadline passes
Negotiations continue on historic theater
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
August 01, 2009
EXETER — As of late Friday afternoon, the current and prospective owners of the Ioka theater had yet to finalize negotiations of a purchase-and-sales agreement.
As of press time, Marc Murai, who had a deadline of Friday, July 31, to sign an agreement with the theater's current owner, Roger Detzler of Immer Besser LLC, said, "We're working with Immer Besser to resolve final details of the agreement, but we have no announcement at this time."
Murai would not indicate when the agreement could be finalized or what the final details entail.
Murai's deadline of Friday was announced after he signed an intent to purchase the theater in April. The Ioka has been closed since December 2008.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
July 29, 2009
Ioka sale nears deadline
Buyer has big plans for theater
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
July 29, 2009
EXETER — Ioka's potential buyer Marc Murai plans to sign a purchase-and-sales agreement for the 93-year-old theater Friday.
July 31 is Murai's deadline to sign the agreement with current owner Roger Detzler. Murai signed an intent to purchase the theater in April. The Ioka Theater has been closed since December.
"We are on track to meet that deadline," Murai said Tuesday.
Murai said he is in the process of negotiating the cost of the building with Detzler, of Immer Besser LLC. The agreement to be signed Friday will include the condition that the sale is contingent upon Murai securing investors or business partners and coming up with the final cost of the building, for which he has until Aug. 31.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
July 05, 2009
Business owners would welcome a reopened Ioka
Say it could attract visitors and shoppers
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
July 05, 2009
As plans to save the Ioka Theatre continue moving forward, local businesses are optimistic for the theater's future and its ability to bring activity into the downtown.
Since the theater's closing in December 2008, some businesses have indicated a decrease in activity. Some link it to the theater while others question whether it could be due to the economy. However, all are interested in the revitalization of the theater and opportunities for collaborating to bring visitors and shoppers to Exeter.
"The Ioka wasn't operating at full tilt for about a year before it closed," said Dan Chartrand, owner of the Water Street Bookstore, adding that business hasn't seen the effects of the theater's closing. "If it could be a vital cultural arts center, it would be a wonderful magnet, but it needs to have visionary, stable ownership."
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
July 03, 2009
Ioka buyer has less than a month to make dream come true
Murai drafts business plan, seeks investors
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
July 03, 2009 2:00 AM
With less a month to go, potential Ioka buyer Marc Murai must finalize a business plan, secure potential investors, and sign a purchase and sales agreement.
Murai has established the Ioka Digital & Performing Arts Center LLC, and has until July 31 to meet these goals. He then has until Aug. 31 to come up with the rest of the money to purchase the building, which is listed at $750,000.
Depending on the final business plan, Murai says he has investors he intends to contact, as well as some who have expressed interest in the project to him. There is a group of 20-plus potential investors who come from throughout the state and from a variety of backgrounds, Murai said, including engineering, architecture and renewable energy.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
June 02, 2009
Seacoast community wants to take the Ioka theater into the future
Participants want film brought to digital age, improved facade and classrooms
By Jeanné McCartin
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
June 02, 2009 2:00 AM
EXETER — With a dancing digital universe as backdrop, Marc Murai, co-campaign manager for the SaveTheIoka.com, introduced himself on Sunday, May 31 to the dozen members of the third focus group. They came inside on a beautiful spring day to learn more about the efforts to save the theater and to share ideas on what it should become.
To a person, the 12 people voiced the opinion that the 1915 theater was a historic beauty, deserving of time and money to ensure it reopen as the Ioka Digital and Performing Arts Center.
The SaveTheIoka.com campaign will host two more focus groups: Wednesday, June 3, at 3 p.m., for teens; and June 4, 1:30 p.m., for older adults. Interested individuals should contact Wendie Leweck at wendie@savetheioka.com or by calling 770-5282.
"The Ioka is a place for engagement and imagination; a place where magic can and has happened," Murai told those gathered before taking them on a tour. "We are fighting for the cultural heritage of this community and nothing less."
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
May 15, 2009
Buyer signs agreement for Exeter's Ioka theater
Owner, buyer sign new purchase agreement
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
May 15, 2009 2:00 AM
Marc Murai, who signed an intent to purchase Exeter's Ioka Theatre less than one month ago, formally put down a $10,000 deposit and signed a new agreement Tuesday, May 12.
With the deposit behind him, Murai, who is spearheading the SavetheIoka.com campaign, will now begin creating a business plan to revive the theater, which closed in December 2008.
At the theater Tuesday, Murai presented the check to Ioka owner Roger Detzler, of Immer Besser LLC, and the pair signed the new agreement. The campaign gathered the deposit from community donors in less than two weeks. Murai announced on May 6 — his deadline for raising the $10,000 — that members of the community, local businesses and others had contributed $10,514 to the cause.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
May 7, 2009
Ioka meets goal
$10K raised just in time deadline
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
May 07, 2009 2:00 AM
EXETER — Excitement was building outside the Ioka Theater on Wednesday night, as community members waited to hear if the SaveTheIoka.com campaign had reached its goal.
"They're smiling while they are counting," said Laurie A. Couture, as she peeked into the historic theater's doors. Behind her, vehicles traveled by with horns tooting and drivers screaming out their windows, "Save the Ioka!"
Just before 8 p.m., Marc Murai, who signed intent-to-purchase papers for the Ioka Theater on April 23 and had to raise $10,000 by Wednesday evening as a good faith deposit, flipped on the marquee lights and announced outside the theater that the campaign raised $10,514. The last donation came in just 30 seconds before, he said.
"It's going to be exciting to make it to the next step, which will involve you, the community, in helping us formulate what the Ioka Digital & Performing Arts Cultural Center will be," Murai told those outside the theater who applauded the news.FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
May 05, 2009
Save Ioka event rallies support for theater
Rally helps, but $7,500 left to raise by Wednesday
By Dave Choate
dchoate@seacoastonline.com
May 05, 2009 2:00 AM
On Sunday, the community rallied around Exeter's Ioka theater, raising $2,500 to save the landmark.
Marc Murai, who is spearheading the effort to save the historic theater, took the microphone at Swasey Parkway to tell the roughly 100 people in attendance May 3 about efforts to preserve the 93-year-old venue. Between live music and food under overcast skies, Murai said it would take a community's effort to keep the Ioka alive and expressed optimism.
"It's gonna happen," he said. "There's only one Ioka theater in America, and it's in Exeter, New Hampshire."
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
May 01, 2009
Fight to save Ioka Theater presses on
Marc Murai forms LLC, plans fund-raiser
By Jennifer Feals
jfeals@seacoastonline.com
May 01, 2009 2:00 AM
The SaveTheIoka.com campaign is hoping to get closer to its goal of raising $10,000 by May 6 with a community fund-raising event Sunday on Swasey Parkway.
Marc Murai, 40, who signed an intent to purchase the Ioka Theater on April 23 and is heading the SaveTheIoka.com campaign, said the "family friendly rally and Town Hall event" will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, on Swasey Parkway.
The gathering will introduce the effort's community organizers and supporters and will also serve as an informal presentation to the public on the current progress of the grass-roots campaign. Live music and food will be available. There is no cost to attend the event, but there will be opportunities to make donations.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com
April 26, 2009
More details needed on Ioka deal
Opinion
April 26, 2009 2:00 AM
Since the Ioka Theater made its final curtain call four months ago, Exeter and surrounding communities have remained hopeful that the theater would someday return as the community jewel it once was.
One man thinks he has a plan to make that happen.
Marc Murai, of MaMu Productions in Bedford, has signed an intent to purchase the Ioka Theater. Murai's interest in the theater halted owner Roger Detzler's plans to demolish the interior of the Ioka and prepare the building for sale to a developer. Detzler had already removed items from the theater's concession stand and said he had been planning to ship the movie theater's seats to North Dakota before Murai's call.
FULL ARTICLE at www.seacoastonline.com