While thoroughly delighted that Buzz Cusack and his daughter, Kathleen, will soon renovate, own and operate the Senator Theatre, I write to clear up some misconceptions about his relationship with the Charles Theatre.

The Charles is owned by Bowling Inc., my family's firm, which has owned the Charles and Everyman Theatre properties for 74 years. It is leased — not owned — by Mr. Cusack, who expanded the Charles by subsequently leasing the former Famous Ballroom, also from Bowling Inc. Mr. Cusack does own the theater operation, one of Baltimore's great assets.

Sofi's Crepes, one of the restaurants mentioned in Friday's editorial ("Time for Tom Kiefaber to let go," June 25), was brought in and built by my son, Mike Shecter, not by Mr. Cusack, who brought in Tapas Teatro.

Finally, the Charles was not "dilapidated" when leased to Mr. Cusack. It closed briefly when a Washington art theater operator, David Levy, retired. I had leased the theater to Mr. Levy to pursue my own idea that Baltimore needed an art movie house, and Mr. Levy made it work. This was the actual start of what is now the Station North Arts District.

Buzz Cusack deserves huge credit for rescuing the Charles in 1993 and subsequently adding four additional screens to his operation. His tenancy is very friendly and successful, and our family has continued to subsidize his parking at only $2 since he re-opened the Charles. My son and a partner are now deeply involved in trying to re-open the Chesapeake Restaurant, which, hopefully, will occur in the very near future. Our family is too committed to the Penn Station neighborhood to allow these misconceptions to stand uncorrected.

Alan Shecter, Baltimore

The writer is vice president of Bowling Inc.