The pendulum of fate for the Paradise Theatre in West Allis, Wisconsin has now swung in the positive direction with news that Epikos Milwaukee Church is considering purchasing the building and holding services there:

In addition to a sanctuary, the church would like to convert a corner of the now vacant building into a coffee shop. It would be professionally run and have a full espresso bar and light sandwiches, Parmelee said.

If the coffee shop makes money, it would be donated to charities helping people around the world and to those helping West Allis, he said.

City officials are willing to work with the church, but a lot has to be done, said John Stibal, development director.

"We're going to be cautiously optimistic that something can be put together," Stibal said.

As the sad gem stands now, it's a hindrance to the city's redevelopment efforts in the Six Points area, he said. That redevelopment effort includes National and Greenfield avenues from about 60th to 65th streets - an area on which the city has already spent a lot of money and wants to get it back through redevelopment.

"You hate to see it demolished," he said of the 82-year-old Paradise that has achieved icon status in the city.

But a repair or raze order is in effect and, with the deadline already past, the city could enforce it anytime, Stibal said.

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The theater was used for religious services in the past, when the Paradise Family Life Center held services there for four years, until it closed in 2009.