STARKVILLE, MS (Take 30 News)-- The historic State Theater has been a landmark of downtown Starkville since the 1930s and this year it's been repurposed as an upstairs-downstairs bar operated by Hobie's on Main.
Since its opening, the State Theater's location has remained at 217 E Main Street in downtown Starkville, with Hobie’s on Main opening it's own bar upstairs in August 2016.
The State Theater is North Mississippi's oldest venue but before that it was a movie theater, one of only two in town for a long time. Starkville Mayor, Lynn Spruill, talks about the theater's history.
“When I was growing up the state theater was, a theater. There were only two in town and they were both on main street,” Spruill said. “The state theater was a prime place for us to go spend Saturday afternoons or go to an evening movie.”
The theater's current owner, Mark Hobart, better known as Hobie, plans to renovate the old room behind Hobie’s upstairs into a speakeasy. Hobart also plans on expanding the theater with more features to utilize the space.
“Yeah, I think the next step would be to get our liquor license. From there, I think it's going to really explode,” Hobart said. “Get a little more food, get food, and we'll have a makeshift, little kitchen.”
Hobie's on Main and it's downstairs area are currently closed due to the Coronavirus but should be reopened soon.