Council accepts bid for theater demo

City News October 16, 2025

At its Oct. 13 meeting the Albert Lea City Council voted to accept the low bid of $374,000 for demolition of the former Broadway Theater at 338 S. Broadway Ave. Dulas Excavating of Wells will remove the hazardous building along with the foundation walls at adjacent properties, 324 and 332 S. Broadway Ave. The city removed those two buildings in 2022 due their hazardous condition. The former Broadway Theater, built in 1902, spans almost 9,000 square feet. The building deteriorated over several years under different owners. City staff started working with the property owners in 2021 to find solutions. With $727,000 estimated to stabilize the exterior, which exceeded the building’s assessed value of $94,600, the owners and city could find no affordable way to save the building. For more council action, watch the meeting on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eheX7955wVM.