LN Sells Wheeling Hall

Live Nation has reportedly sold the shuttered Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling, W.Va., to three local business partners who vow to reopen the historic venue by October.

Dr. Manny Velez and his partners, Theresa and Jim Childers, signed an agreement to buy the hall, which opened in 1928, for an undisclosed amount. The deal reportedly could close by mid-September.

"After we get the theatre up and running, we will be looking to attract some familiar names to the Capitol Music Hall. We are particularly interested in ’70s and ’80s artists like Chicago, America, Kenny Loggins and even James Taylor, among many others," Velez told the Wheeling News-Register. "Our ultimate goal is to have headlining artists like these play on Friday and Saturday nights, and have local artists and events through the week."

Live Nation spokesman John Vlautin previously said the Wheeling Fire Department alerted the company in May to 23 code violations, which led to a decision to close the venue. Code violations reportedly included poor electric wiring, broken or non-existent emergency lighting and exit signs and out-of-date fire extinguishers.

The city put the hall on the block for $850,000 shortly after the closure. Officials decided not to pursue buying the venue in the interest of finding a private investor who would restore the historic building.

A Wheeling city official estimated that renovation and bringing the building up to code could cost between $3 million and $5 million.

Vlautin could not be reached at press time.