The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

It was cold day in 2005 and snow covered the ground when Lisa Clausen and her eight-week-old puppy, Ruby, drove a golden shovel down, breaking ground on the Sisters Movie House. Fast forward over 11 years and Lisa, along with now-12-year-old Ruby, are moving on. Recently, Clausen quietly sold the Sisters Movie House to Drew Kaza; the ownership change will take place at the end of July.

Clausen did not make the decision to sell quickly.

"I was approached by several chains," she said. "I knew that wasn't what was right for the business or for Sisters. With Drew and his investors, I feel like I'm handing the business off to people who will love it and care for it."

Kaza is a native Oregonian, having grown up in Beaverton. In the mid-1980s, his career in a variety of aspects of the entertainment and film industry took him to Philadelphia, Hollywood and finally the United Kingdom. Since 2007 Kaza worked for Odeon Cinemas in Europe. With more than 2,200 screens across seven countries he has had experience in many aspects of running a movie theater.

"I am worn out by the big city," said Kaza. "I am delighted to be in Central Oregon and looking forward to carrying out a good run here with the theater."

"I know the new owner will bring sophisticated sensibility to the already unique culture the Movie House has developed," said Clausen. "They appreciate quality film and quality environment and fully understand what we have developed here. I look forward to them enhancing that."

Kaza's business has been searching for an investment in Central Oregon for the last 18 months and jumped at the opportunity to purchase Sisters Movie House. From the moment they met Clausen, Kaza was impressed with what she had done.

"You want to go into business with someone you like," said Kaza of Clausen. "It was important to me that Lisa felt like the business is going to a safe pair of hands and respecting it's legacy. I know we can build on that successful relationship."

Community members can expect the same quality film that has run through the Sisters Movie House for the last 11-plus years to continue after the transition in ownership. Sisters Movie House will continue to be a place where folks can get food and drinks alongside the first-run and unique movies. The new owner anticipates maintaining the friendly e-newsletter that Clausen has crafted weekly since the opening of the theater in 2005.

"I'd like to think I can take it to the next level," Kaza said. "But it's really hard to improve upon an already great recipe."

A celebration in honor of the transition and Clausen and her dog Ruby is planned for September.