DOWNEY — Members of the public were given the chance to take home a piece of Downey’s historic Avenue Theatre last Saturday.

Lined up outside of the long-since closed building, history buffs and nostalgia fans alike got to pick and choose from what was salvageable amongst the considerably worse-for-wear seats.

Donations were also accepted for the seats, in support of the First Baptist Church, Assistance League of Downey, and the St. George Greek Church.

The opportunity came as the former theater prepares to undergo major changes and renovations — including a rooftop lounge, pizza parlor, and craft brewery restaurant, though it will retain its classic façade.

Announcement of the giveaway came just a day prior from former mayor and part property owner Kirk Cartozian via a post on his personal Facebook page.

Cartozian purchased the property in 2016 as part of the Downey Restaurant Group for a total of $750,000. The theater had previously been purchased by the city in 2008 for $1.2 million.

As they waited and chose which seats they would be taking home, many could be heard reminiscing about the days when the theater was still operational.

Brian Gaeta-Symonds, 37, began working at the Avenue around 1997. It was his first job.

“It’s good nostalgia,” said Gaeta-Symonds. “This was where families could go to build community, to spend time together at a really affordable price. It’s history; it’s a piece of Downey.”

Dan Lorenzetti, who has been a Downey resident for 63 years, took a few chairs home with him, and mirrored Gaeta-Symonds comment about nostalgia.

“It was the cheaper theater to go to,” said Lorenzetti. “Growing up, paying a quarter for a show, being dropped off and picked up, it was fun.”

Avenue Theatre seats removed, given away