WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A beloved community stage in Winter Garden will soon get a second act.
The Garden Theatre, which closed last fall after its former operator dissolved due to financial issues, is now owned by the City of Winter Garden.
On Thursday, city leaders unanimously approved a plan to revive the historic venue — focusing on concerts, special events and limited rentals.
You can read the full business plan at the bottom of the story.
For sisters Allison and Natalie Sagalini, the news is personal.
[Watch video below to hear community reaction]
“We both grew up coming here,” Allison said. “I went to summer camp here as a kid. We would come do the dollar movies. They had the milk money movies growing up. They’d play old kids’ movies during the summer. We even saw a few plays here.”
The new proposal leans toward a “presenting model,” where city-led programming — like events through the Parks and Recreation Department — would have priority access to the calendar. The plan also suggests hosting concerts and one-off performances tied to downtown festivities. Plays, camps, and movies would also be part of the programming.
A third-party management company would work with the city on a calendar request process. The plan would be to enter into a short-term agreement, and then extend the deal based on how successful the plan is.
“That would be awesome,” Natalie said. “It’s a really big part of old downtown Winter Garden. It’s changed a lot, but this place has always felt special.”
The Sagalinis say the Garden Theatre has remained a constant as the downtown area has evolved, and they hope its next chapter reflects the heart of the community.
“We’ve seen a lot of the restaurants and stores change, but this has always been the same,” Allison said. “It would be nice to still have it—perfect, just the way it is.”
Winter Garden Garden Theater Business Plan by Christie Zizo on Scribd
