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HOWELL THEATRE'S MICKEY BUFFALOE
SALUTED AS A "MAIN STREET CHAMPION"
In recommending Mr. Buffaloe for this honor, DSDC offered the following statement: "Having the passion and entrepreneurial spirit, Mickey Buffaloe purchased downtown Smithfield’s historic Howell Theatre in 1999, and he has quickly become a leader and advocate of small business. Battling the challenges of a multi-screen theatre that opened outside of downtown in 2004, Mickey showed true resilience and changed the Howell Theatre to a second-run format and offered moviegoers the ticket price of $2 – 'every movie, everyday, everybody.' "Working hard to build back attendance, Mickey promoted the theatre to local citizens, families, and school and church groups. Various articles about the uniqueness of the Howell have been published in area newspapers, including The News and Observer; it has also been featured in The Washington Post. "There are few individuals who can match the support and commitment of Mickey Buffaloe, a man who Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation is proud to recognize as our 2009 Main Street Champion."  HISTORIC HOWELL THEATRE HAS A NEW FAMILY OF OWNERS The historic Howell Theatre in Downtown Smithfield is now operating under the ownership of Chuck and Amy Kirkman of Wake Forest. Located at 141 South Third Street, the Howell Theatre will continue to operate as it has, by continuing to offer moviegoers the type of quality family entertainment that has made the theatre popular, the Kirkmans stated. The $2.50 admission for all of its showings will continue as well. “We are excited to take over this successful business from Mickey Buffaloe,” said Amy Kirkman. “One of the key buying points for our family was how important the Howell is to Downtown Smithfield and the community. We consider this purchase an honor and our family is eager to continue the fine family entertainment tradition the Howell Theatre represents.” “We are glad that the Kirkman family chose to invest in Downtown Smithfield and will continue to operate the Howell,” said Chris Johnson, Executive Director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. “With one of the few remaining downtown theatres in North Carolina, Smithfield has something in the Howell Theatre that other communities across the state and U.S. only dream about.
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