The former Riviera Theater will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021 with a complete makeover. A group of area developers is determined to reinvent an iconic Sioux City corner while giving the nod to the venue’s history. The local entrepreneurial spirit of Siouxland will be on full display within the “RE/MAX City Centre.”
The City Centre will be the new home to the RE/MAX Preferred real estate brokerage, their team of exceptional agents, and several unique concepts not currently found in downtown Sioux City. The Warp Zone Arcade & Taproom, Ichiban Sushi and Japanese Steakhouse, daily brunch and coffee concept currently in development, and a newly renovated intimate theater experience will bring the building to life!
“Culture is so important to us. We want to create a really fun, upbeat atmosphere and flex space for our clients, agents, and everyone visiting the City Centre to enjoy all it will have to offer. As with all our real estate closings, a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of this property and leases generated in the building will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network,” stated Rachel Carlson, owner/broker RE/MAX Preferred and Carlson Group Team Lead.
Lindie Stauder, who created the innovative “The Warp Zone Arcade and Taproom,” recently won an award at Siouxland’s 2020 Innovation Market and also at the 2021 Iowa Venture Event. The new concept combines the social experience of a bar and the excitement and nostalgia of the arcade. In addition to all your favorite old-school arcade games, they will offer a wide selection of local and regional beers. A constantly rotating tap list will keep you stopping in to try something new.
Binh Vuong and the team at Ichiban will be creating a new dining concept that takes the sushi bar concept to a whole other level. Innovative new ideas and creative twists on menu options will give Sioux City patrons a different take on traditional Japanese steakhouses.
A daily brunch and coffee spot will be announced in the coming months. There is still room to lease space within the building. Although, space is expected to fill quickly, with construction commencing late summer early fall. The building currently sits at 18,000 square feet but, through the addition of a second-level, will grow to 25,000+.
“A cornerstone of our mission is creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs and business owners to be successful while growing our community. The RE/MAX City Centre is going to have a very collaborative high energy entrepreneurial spirit,” states Jeff Carlson, Carlson Group at RE/MAX.
There will be a nod to the history of the Riviera. A portion of the City Centre will remain a theater. The vision for “The Theater” is to offer second movie showings, as well as host other events. It’s a great platform for non-profit events and even will be available to rent or host your own gatherings.
Jeff & Rachel Carlson (Sioux City), Aaron Jones (Okoboji, IA), James Stapleton (Omaha), and Joshua Johnston (Omaha) make up the partners in “The City Centre Project.” The developers have a unique cross-section of experience in designing and launching projects. The Sioux City, Okoboji, and Omaha markets include youth sports complexes, stay suites and resort-style lake accommodations, historical building restoration, restaurants & bars, franchises, and other residential developments.
Joshua Johnston commented, “Though my roots are now in Omaha, having been born and raised in Siouxland, I’ve always been drawn back to being part of the growth and re-development of the Sioux City area. As our other business ventures have grown, we began to look back to Siouxland for opportunities to make an impact. I remember coming to the Riviera as a kid, and so to have the opportunity to breathe life back into this building means a lot to me. We are committed to the long-term success of downtown Sioux City. It also means a lot of hard work coming to fruition and something special for everyone involved.”
“I’m excited to continually invest in Siouxland as we have with our Robertson Ryan insurance companies. Siouxland holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to do my part by investing in a project that will add next-level amenities to downtown,” elaborated James Stapleton.
Bravo Company Design (Plymouth, MN) gave invaluable initial insight into building layout options. FEH DESIGN (Sioux City, IA) is heading up the architectural front, including layout and infrastructure design efforts.
“The future is incredible for Sioux City, and RE/MAX Preferred is poised to be a big part of that growth. When buyers and sellers think of RE/MAX, they think of “trust” and “integrity.” We put our clients above commissions, provide state-of-the-art technology to improve the buying and selling process, and, most importantly, give back to our communities. Our office in Okoboji was #1 in sales in 2020, which is great, but it’s not our main focus. We focus on exceeding our client’s expectations, maximizing listing exposure for our sellers, and providing unparalleled search tools (i.e., RE/MAX Preferred App.) Our ability to provide value, especially in technology and saving our agents the time they can be spending with their families, will allow us to continue to add amazing people to our team. Our presence here, on 4th Street, at the RE/MAX City Centre, shows our long-term commitment to our agents, our clients, and the community, stated Aaron Jones, Broker/Owner RE/MAX Lakes Realty and RE/MAX Preferred.
