The iconic Orinda Theatre sale falls through.
A transaction to sell the business operations of the Orinda Theatre – not the physical theater property itself – to former comedy club owner Tommy Thomas failed to close.
“The sale didn’t go through; it fell out of escrow,” said Derek Zemrak, owner of the theater business.
Zemrak provided no other details, and telephone calls to Thomas were not returned.
Thomas is the former owner of Tommy T’s comedy club, once located in San Leandro and now in Pleasanton. Tommy T’s is now owned by Gayle Thomas, the ex-wife of Tommy Thomas.
Zemrak leases the Orinda Theatre space from Dunhill Partners, which has owned the property since 2015.
On April 17, a master of ceremonies representing Zemrak for a free screening of the film “Casablanca” at the Orinda Theatre announced the sale of the business and openly promoted plans for more musical acts and rock concerts at the theater complex.
Earlier in May, the Orinda Theatre successfully presented two well-attended, back-to-back rock concerts by Starship with Mickey Thomas, which is an offshoot of the Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.