Theater Collapse

The collapse of part of an old theater shut down a trendy restaurant and other Chapel Street businesses. The Union League Cafe and several other businesses were forced to close Sunday after part of the old Hyperion Theater collapsed onto the restaurant building, moments after staff went home. Authorities said no one was injured in the collapse just before 2 a.m., but water from broken pipes caused major damage inside the posh restaurant. The collapse of the former projection booth came shortly after crews working for the company taking down the historic theater had warned that there was some type of "emergency," according to Robin Vuillermet, whose husband is owner and chef of the restaurant. The Rainbow Cafe, and several other businesses near Union League, also were closed Sunday, apparently because utilities were cut to several buildings in the block. The historic Hyperion was built as an opera house in 1880 and sits behind the Union League building. City officials ordered demolition of the theater because bricks were falling down and there were gaping holes in its ceiling, walls and floors.