Friend, NE — A major downtown revitalization effort is underway in the community of Friend, Nebraska, where renovations to the historic Warren Building and its long-shuttered opera house are setting the stage for renewed economic development, cultural tourism, and performing arts opportunities in rural Nebraska.
Once the heartbeat of Friend’s social scene, the opera house—built in the 1880s—hosted plays, concerts, political rallies, lectures, dances, and even traveling circus acts during its early-20th-century heyday. The upper-level venue closed around 1930 as movie theaters became popular, but it has remained a beloved landmark in community memory.
Today, the Friend Historical Society is leading a multi-year, multi-phase renovation effort designed to restore the building’s structural integrity, enhance accessibility, and reactivate the opera house as a functional event destination that can support economic activity downtown.
Community Champions Restore a Historic Gem
The latest chapter in the Warren Building story began in 2007, when residents formed the Friend Historical Society to preserve the building, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Initial renovations transformed the first floor into the San Carlo Room—an event venue—and the Pour House Tasting Room, a speakeasy-style bistro that now draws thousands of visitors each year.
Two Friend High School graduates, Mary Ann Losh and Pam Hromadka, have become key leaders in the preservation project. Both returned to their hometown ready to help restore the opera house to its former prominence.
“We’ve invested heavily in making the Warren Building structurally sound—new roof, foundation reinforcement, beams, and brickwork,” said Losh, president of the Friend Historical Society. “Most of what we’ve done so far are things you don’t see, but they were critical to moving this project forward.”
Opera House Renovation Moves Into New Phase
In September, the project reached an exciting milestone with groundbreaking on a new accessible staircase and elevator that will allow the upper-level opera house to reopen to the public for the first time in nearly a century. The improvements will bring the venue into ADA compliance and hel
p create a fully functional cultural, educational, and event destination in the heart of downtown Friend
“It has to earn its way,” Losh added. “We’re balancing the need to preserve its historic value with modern upgrades that will support events and generate economic activity for our community.”
State Support Advances Rural Development
The restoration effort is supported by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) through a Community Development Block Grant Program – Tourism Development Award as well as additional shovel-ready capital project funding. The Warren Building renovation has also been certified under the Community Development Assistance Act and the Creating High Impact Economic Futures Act, enabling donors to receive tax credits for qualified contributions.
These programs reinforce Nebraska’s commitment to rural revitalization, downtown redevelopment, heritage tourism, and long-term economic growth.
Historic Building Becomes an Economic Driver
Even before the opera house reopens, activity on the building’s renovated first floor has generated significant economic impact. More than 6,000 visitors pass through the Warren Building each year for weddings, receptions, meetings, celebrations, and community events.
“We rent the space for everything—anniversaries, meetings, celebrations of life—people love coming here,” said Hromadka, treasurer of the Friend Historical Society. “It has become a regional gathering place.”
The building also hosts a popular performing arts summer camp for youth ages 7–15, attracting students from 10 school districts and bringing families into Friend’s local restaurants, shops, and attractions. With renovations nearing completion, the camp will soon move performances to the restored opera house’s new 20-foot-wide stage.
Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future
For many residents, the renovation is deeply personal. Hromadka remembers visiting the shuttered opera house with her father during Friend’s 125th anniversary celebration in 1995.
“He bounded up those 26 stairs like it was nothing,” she recalled. “He had so many memories of watching performances here as a child.”
To honor him, she purchased one of the opera house seats during an early fundraiser. “Someday his name will be in the front row,” she said.
As the project progresses, Friend’s leaders continue to demonstrate how rural communities can honor their history while building a sustainable economic future—one that welcomes visitors, supports the arts, and strengthens local pride.
For more information, visit friendnehistoricalsociety.org.
