I guess it's kinda like the Baskin-Robbins/Dunkin Donuts hybrids that you see popping up. You're not likely to buy ice cream at 7:00am, nor are you likely to buy fresh donuts at 7:00pm. So why not put them under one roof and minimize the idle time?

Ideally, this would incorporate two uses in one space, not two spaces. So if you have a sandwich shop downstairs and a theatre upstairs, that wouldn't really count. It might be in the same building, but it's still two spaces. Theoretically, if you can already pay your bills by selling coffee and sandwiches, then the theatre side of the business could operate without having to worry about making rent each month.

You know in high school gymnasiums, where they have collapsible bleacher seats that fold up flush with the walls? When I let my imagination run, I imagine putting some of those contraptions on three sides, so when you're putting the tuna salad back in the fridge you can simultaneously pull out the seats needed for that evening's performance.

I continue to let my imagination go until I have to figure out how to keep the sets and props safe during daytime business hours. After all, you don't want to have to strike at the end of every show. Maybe if you could cordon it off somehow... I don't know. I think it would largely depend on the space that you actually use to attempt this experiment.

So has anyone out there encountered something similar to this idea? I mentioned the Baskin-Robbins/Dunkin Donuts thing. I guess there are some bars that are open for lunch and then have bands play there at night. A lot of theatres will rent their space out for classes, rehearsals, and meetings during the day, but at least in Columbus there's a limited market for such alternative uses.

Maybe I should just open a comic book shop in the lobby. Then I'd never have to leave.