October 25, 2025
Howell Theatre Preservation Gets Financial Boost
SMITHFIELD – In a unanimous vote, the Smithfield Town Council has agreed to donate $150,000 towards the purchase of the historic Howell Theatre on S. Third Street.
Todd Johnson, a spokesperson for the Historic Smithfield Foundation, appeared before the town council on July 1 requesting the donation to help the non-profit group purchase and renovate the theatre, which opened in Downtown Smithfield in 1935.
Johnson initially asked for $115,000 towards a $300,000 fundraising goal, but the council, at the suggestion of Councilman Sloan Stevens, donated $150,000.
The money will come from local tourism tax revenue from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau.
The Howell Theatre closed in April 2025 and was sold to Grace Reform Church.
The Historic Smithfield Foundation has been in negotiations with the church to purchase the cherished theatre then restore it as closely as possible to its original 1935 design, but with modern amenities.
The Foundation hopes to complete the purchase of the Howell Theatre later this month. Grace Reform is expected to then purchase the vacant Whitley Memorial Church on Wilson’s Mills Road.
The Foundation’s goal is to raise $1.8 million to pay for and fully renovate the theatre.
The Historic Smithfield Foundation agreed to a stipulation by the Town Council to allow the non-profit Neuse Little Theatre to use the Howell Theatre as needed for performances.
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15 Comments
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praise the lord! thank you sloan stevens!
thank you sloan stevens!
Government buying private businesses hoping to run them effectively never work. For example, Selma buying the swimming pool.
@Michael: THIS ^^^ is the correct take. Why in the world is the GOVERNMENT funding private businesses with OUR tax dollars?!?! We’re not some SOCIALIST country! Let the hundreds of non-profits fund this work — NOT THE GOVERNMENT! Our continual creep towards SOCIALISM is magnified each time we accept more and more government intrusion into our PRIVATE lives. #MAGA #StopSocialism
Todd Johnson is beyond amazing! I can’t wait to see the final makeover! We always went to the Howell when we were teenagers.
So thankful this magnificent historic building is going to be preserved. We have taken students there many times.
So who is going to run the business? It will be owned by the Historic Foundation which I’m guessing is not a government entity so will it be owned and run by a nonprofit, aka, the Historic Foundation?
I love the Howell. Great movies, great facility,great prices.
Wow! That’s how the town finally stole the business after years of closing the street and parking, costing me thousands. They didn’t want to buy the building legitimately. One more disabled veteran business closed. Sloan, how come you just laughed everytime I suggested that the Town buy it. No one was interested until you saw it slip away.
That’s the Smithfield way!
Omg. Could not imagine a bigger waste and fraud. A family full of stingy millionaires just got 150k to preserve a theater no one goes to. Wth.
With all the extra revenue they are going get this year from property taxes they will be able to buy many other properties to fun as inefficiently as they run the town. Why would anyone think something like this is the responsibility of a government?
I think these folks r well intentioned but I can’t see how this will work out for the town….and probably will be a financial drain on resources
The town ignored all my requests to quit closing the street and parking and I was always ignored. I tried to reach a reasonable deal and give them the Howell Theatre business and they didn’t want it. Now they’ve stolen it.
Let’s clear a few things up:
-No one stole a business. The Howell Theatre BUILDING was sold by its owner…VOLUNTARILY…to a church. The Historic Smithfield Foundation is now working to restore the BUILDING, not take over a private business.
-The $150,000 donation from the town is NOT coming from our property or income taxes. It’s from tourism tax revenue collected through an occupancy tax on hotel stays.
VISITORS who stay overnight in Smithfield pay this tax, NOT local residents. That money is LEGALLY earmarked for tourism-related improvements, like restoring historic sites that attract more visitors.
–No theft.
–No misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Smoke and mirrors and semantics…the tourism revenue could easily wised to offset the gigantic increased property tax burden you guys just placed on your constituents.