As the governor s words echoed through the empty room, the couple couldn t hide their concern.Â
The future of their livelihood, as well as the entire touring music industry, is tied to a pandemic that is still raging and has halted live music performances indefinitely.
Governor Steve Bullock speaks to Pub Station owner Sean Lynch at Pub Station in Billings on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. MIKE CLARK Billings Gazette
âItâs been the most stressful six months Iâve had in my whole life, other than maybe owning a restaurant,â Lynch said at the time. The Pub Station, classified as a Phase 3 business, has had its stages closed since March 13.
Thereâs a noticeable new glow along North Broadway, as a $13.6 million renovation is finally complete at Alberta Bair Theater. The original building, a former Fox movie theater built during the Great Depression, is now encased in floor-to-ceiling glass walls jutting nearly 20 feet from the original brick exterior.
The project, which brought the 89-year-old building up to code and enlarged the theater, tackled everything from upgraded lighting and sound to new seats, expanded restrooms, additional concessions, a new box office entrance on North Broadway, and numerous enhancements to the facility to support modern touring performances.
The theater now awaits its formal debut, a fate tied closely to the pandemic.