Meet Jerry Shults and Amy Herrig of Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Shults and Amy Herrig.

Jerry started his own business in 1970, after returning from serving in the Air Force in Vietnam. After growing his original business The Gas Pipe over several decades, he began expanding into other areas, in particular commercial real estate and the fishing lodge industry in Alaska. He was living the dream of a true entrepreneur, building his businesses from a meager start and his savings from his time serving his country. In 2005 his daughter Amy joined him at work and together they continued to grow the businesses, employing over 100 people and providing a fun, family like environment where people could find not only a job but a home, plus fully paid employee benefits, a real rarity for the time. In 2010 the duo wanted to expand the business to Ft. Worth and the Ridglea Theater, along with the attached office building and retail spaces, was for sale. It almost sold to a national banking chain, and if it had the building was set to be destroyed, which would have been a tragedy considering the beauty and historical significance of the building. Jerry and Amy made an offer to buy the complex and were luckily successful. From that point on restoring the theater became a labor of love, particularly for Jerry. Amy focused on getting the administrative and business side of things organized. The purchase involved taking on approximately 50 tenants and making sure all spaces could be leased properly and there was also a need for new staffing for the facility. Jerry oversaw a major restoration, and together they got the theater and attached buildings fully functioning and a beautiful landmark for the city, which is now on the National Historic Registry and will be protected forever.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have always been obstacles, which is typical for any entrepreneur. There are financial struggles, legal struggles, regulation struggles, and personnel struggles, although one of the things that Jerry and Amy have been blessed with over the years is being surrounded by great people who work hard and really enjoy what they do. The restoration of the theater, in particular, presented great struggles because it was such a massive project. No detail was overlooked – it was important to have the building as close to its original state as possible – from the mural in the lobby to the terrazzo tile floor to the seats in the balcony. The historical restoration was a challenge in itself, but taking on such a huge rental property with so many new tenants made us, very quickly, landlords to many people, and we had never done so in such a great capacity. There was a lot to learn, but we did so one day at a time and were blessed to work with people who believed in us and had patience as we were growing and learning. Once the theater was renovated the challenge of bringing in business for the theater presented itself. It’s a beautiful venue and is a wonderful spot for weddings, charity events, concerts – but how to market it and let people know that theater existed and was ready has been a challenge. Now though it’s been a few years and word has gotten out about the theater and every month we are busier and busier. Last year we opened the attached Ridglea Room, which holds about 350 people (versus the theater that can hold about 1500) and this has increased business for us because it’s allowed for events of smaller size and not just big events.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ridglea Theater – what should we know?
The Ridglea Theater is a premier venue in Ft. Worth, TX. It is a historical site completely restored to its original state from 1949. It’s the perfect venue for weddings, charity events, concerts, or really a celebration of any kind. In addition to the theater itself there are two smaller venues attached to the theater – the Ridglea Room and the Ridglea Lounge, both perfect for a more intimate setting. The entertainment complex is attached to a large office and retail complex, making it a multi-use facility. In the past few years the theater has become busier and more popular, increasingly bringing in more live music to Ft. Worth. It is increasingly becoming the premier entertainment facility in the area.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Determination is by far the characteristic that is most essential for any success. You have to be determined to succeed and you have to believe in what you’re doing. There will always be obstacles and challenges so you have to have the drive and ability to “keep your eye on the prize” so to speak. You have to know how to overcome hurdles and know that a closed door can mean a window of opportunity somewhere else. It’s important to know when you’ve hit a wall and it’s time to try something different to achieve the ultimate result you want while still staying focused on the end goal. So I would also say that along with determination you need a little bit of patience because sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for and making sure it’s done correctly.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ft. Worth, TX 76116
• Website: ridgleatheater.net
• Phone: 817-738-9500
• Email: ridgleatheater.garcia@gmail.com
• Facebook: ridgleatheater

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