Fire damages NorShor Theatre in Duluth

A morning fire has damaged the historic NorShor Theatre in downtown Duluth.

The Duluth Fire Department responded to an alarm at the NorShor at about 4:30 a.m. They found the building filling with smoke and summoned more firefighters from the area.

The fire was contained to a single room in the upper level above the main theater, officials said. They believe the fire started with a faulty blower motor in the building's heating system. Damage to the building is estimated at $15,000.

The theater has sat empty since 2010 when the city purchased it for $2.6 million. It was built in 1910 and is the last remaining historic theater in downtown Duluth. The city is partnering with a developer and the Duluth Playhouse to renovate the building.

Mayor Don Ness sees a reopened NorShor as a cornerstone in downtown Duluth's ongoing redevelopment. The theater would seat about 750 people and fill a void of mid-size venues in Duluth that the city hopes could attract regional artists and provide a larger performance space for arts organizations.

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