(MYFOX NATIONAL) – If a visit to the Burt Reynolds Museum is on your life list, then you may want to get to Florida soon.
The museum, located in Jupiter, may be closed or moved this year to make way for a new commercial development. The former First Union Bank building, which houses the museum, is owned by the town and is set to be demolished to make way for Harbourside, a new 10-acre, $110 million complex that will feature a restaurant, hotel and marina.
The Palm Beach Post reported that talks have taken place with the town, the developer and the museum, but a person associated with the museum fears that future looks dim.
“Without an agreement, we fear that rental rates, assessments and other fees … would make it impossible for the museum to stay in this area,” Suzanne Niedland, chair of the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theater, wrote in a letter about the fate of the museum.
The mayor of the town said that other non-profits organizations need to be considered for a place in the new development. “There is no guarantee Burt Reynolds is going into Harbourside,” said Mayor Karen Golonka to The Post.
The museum, described as one of the largest celebrity museums in the country, houses memorabilia from Reynolds’ acting career, including movie posters, paintings, movie props, as well as other sport and movie collectibles. Buzzfeed posted photos from inside the museum.
Well, it’s definitely a sad day to be an American. How can we sit here and let this happen to arguably one of the greatest actors/icons ever to grace the silver screen? And at what cost?…for the sake of a shopping center. Who knew that a dry cleaner, nail salon, and a Rite Aid were more in need than recognizing the greatness that is Burt Reynolds. We must act soon because we have a long way to go and a short time to get there, but we can do what they said can’t be done. RUN BANDIT! RUN!
