The Penn Theater in Butler — shown here on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 — which has been closed for years, is now under new ownership and is being renovated to reopen. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Members of the Butler Redevelopment Authority had a little something extra to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

Brian McCafferty, chairman of the Butler Redevelopment Authority, said that Bryan Frenchak closed on a deal with the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to buy the Penn Theater the day before the holiday. Frenchak’s purchase got the foundation’s $290,000 loan the authority used to buy the theater in 2009 off its plate.

“He made the deal, so we were really thankful that Thanksgiving,” McCafferty said Monday.

Frenchak, a former Butler resident who now lives in Houston, said he is paying $65,000 for the theater, as per the terms of the agreement. While that number is lower than what the redevelopment authority owed, Michael Sriprasert, president of the Pittsburgh foundation, said the mortgage on the building has been released, and there is no further obligation from the Redevelopment Authority.

Frenchak also supported the foundation and its mission with a donation made alongside the purchase, according to Sriprasert.

“Frenchak also donated a preservation easement to our organization for the building, which permanently protects this historic structure,” Sriprasert said, “and secures its place in the Downtown Butler National Register Historic District.”