The DeMarce Theatre in Benson, Minnesota has been serving the western Minnesota city since opening in 1916, and the current owners have decided to put the movie theater up for sale.

Located in downtown Benson on Atlantic Avenue and 14th Street North, the historic movie theater has been operated by Randy and Pam Marran since 2021. They posted the following message to the theater's Facebook page:

We want to share an important update with our community.

In 2021, we purchased the DeMarce Theater and fully refurbished it as a way to give back to our hometown. With the help of dedicated family, friends, and so many members of our community, we were proud to reopen the doors and bring movies, events, and gatherings back to downtown Benson.

As we look ahead to the next chapter of life and begin easing toward retirement, we have made the difficult decision to offer the theater for sale. This was not a decision made lightly. The DeMarce Theater has meant a great deal to us, and we are incredibly grateful for the support you have shown over the years — from movie nights and premieres to birthday parties, fundraisers, and community events.

Please know that the DeMarce Theater will remain open and operating during this process. Our hope is to find the right next owner who will continue its legacy as a vibrant gathering place and an important part of downtown Benson for many years to come.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. It has truly been an honor to serve this community.

Randy and Pam Marran

The message says that the movie theater will remain open, so it does not appear that they are setting a hard deadline for leaving the business.

Real Estate Listing

The website for Edina Realty shows the 5,330 square foot theater as available for $234,900. It appears that all the equipment to operate the movie theater is included in the sale, as is the attached apartment for additional rental income.

If you've ever dreamed of owning and operating a movie theater, this is your opportunity to live that dream!

Showtimes

As long as the theater remains open, you can see what's playing and when by visiting the Showtimes page for the DeMarce Theatre.

We're hoping that they can find a new owner, as the nearest theaters are the Morris Theatre in Morris and the Plaza III Theater in Montevideo, both of which are more than 20 miles away.