As a young artist, Ernesto Camacho Jr. had issues with people not understanding him or his paintings.

“Being able to show it in a gallery was kind of tough,” said Camacho, 41, a native of the Philadelphia area who lives in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood.

“When I went to a gallery for the first time to show them my work and to have them display my work, the gallery owners criticized my work a little bit and gave me the impression I wasn’t ready to show my work,” he said. “I felt a little down, and I got a bit discouraged.”

Within a month of that rejection, Camacho got an opportunity to showcase his work at GoggleWorks, an art gallery and studio in Reading, in 2006. Doors once closed to him started opening — even the gallery that turned him down wanted him to come back.

“I knew I was doing the right thing,” he said.

Now, with an art gallery of his own in Tarentum, Camacho wants to be the one opening doors for other artists.

The Manos Gallery on East Fifth Avenue is in a century-old building that once housed the Manos movie theater. The space has been renovated by Camacho’s partner, Brian DeFelices, 43.

“It’s always been a dream to have an art gallery,” Camacho said. “I want this to be that space where we can give people a platform to show their work and be seen by the public. This is a great opportunity for local artists to showcase their work.”

DeFelices and Camacho opened the Manos Gallery during the third Tarentum Night Market on Thursday.

“It’s kind of neat to see his dream come true,” DeFelices said. “We’re creating a dream and a destination.”

The gallery will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays, and by appointment only on other days. There’s no admission charge.

“People who appreciate art can come in here and take their time and appreciate it,” Camacho said.

According to area historian Cindy Homburg, the building was constructed in 1919 and opened in 1920 as the Palace Theater. The Manos family, who at one time operated more than 100 theaters in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, bought the Palace in 1949 and opened it as the Manos Theater in 1950. A bowling was located above the theater.

“The Manos was noted as the most beautiful theater in the tri-state area, according to the entertainment industry,” Homburg said.

The theater closed in 1978. The building was then used as a liquor store and offices.

DeFelices, a real estate investor born and raised in the Tarentum area, bought the building in March. Nothing of the theater remains — the basement was filled in — although they have found remnants of its original walls and ceiling moldings.

DeFelices said the building was in fair condition overall when he first saw it, but it was cold, dark and stale inside. It needed painting, the roof leaked and the electric needed to be updated.

“We’ve been working nonstop since March,” he said.

For the gallery on the first floor, DeFelices opened up the rooms to make them bigger and updated the lighting, paint, walls, trim and flooring.

The second and third floors house a dozen apartments, all of which are occupied. For them, he painted the walls; put in new ceiling tile, lighting and windows; and updated the flooring, bathrooms and appliances.

“I try to make the apartments real nice for the tenants,” he said.

Camacho’s paintings, inspired by Salvador Dali and others, are displayed throughout the 3,000-square-foot gallery, along with works by other artists.

DeFelices, with an eye for detail and style, has made the gallery and the entire building an art piece, exposing brick walls inside, using barn wood and adorning it in bright colors, including copious amounts of orange.

“He really made this place a work of art,” Camacho said.

Camacho said they’ll have a featured artist each month. They are currently looking for one for December.

Debbie Beale, a Highlands School Board member from Brackenridge, is a tailor by trade and a self-described amateur artist. She is showing her art in public for the first time at the gallery, with seven pieces on display.

“I came here as a child when it was the Manos Theater,” Beale said on the gallery’s opening night. “What they’ve done is brought it back to life. I feel the energy in here, and the purpose.”

Tarentum Councilwoman Carrie Fox called the gallery “fantastic.”

“It’s going to bring in a different clientele to our area,” she said. “I’m hoping it’s the start of something new and creative for Tarentum.”

Studio spaces for artists are available for rent, and there are rooms for classes and events, such as “paint and wine” nights they plan to host.

DeFelices is confident artists will come from Pittsburgh to exhibit at the Manos.

“I have artists from the city in here already,” he said. “I have a waiting list of artists.”

Camacho said the response to their plans on social media has been overwhelming.

“It’s exciting to see people excited about art,” he said.

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