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The AMC Broadway 4 on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California closed a few days ago. Built on the site of the former El Miro Theatre while retaining its facade, it opened in 1989 under Cineplex, and was remodeled at least once by AMC.
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Metropolitan Theatres Fiesta 5 in Santa Barbara, CA. Sept. 19 was the last day. Started demo the next morning.Comment
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I've missed quite a few months, so I'll just cover the articles that I have written in August and September.
Closings- Denver, CO: Landmark Chez Artiste Theatre Closed
- El Paso, TX: AMC Classic East Pointe 12 Closed
- Sarver, PA: South Pike Movie Theater Closed, Owner Hopes to Reopen in September
- Newburgh, NY: Movie Theater Announces Plans to Close
- Clarksville, TN: Governor's Square Movie Theater Closed, But Movies May Return
- Tiffin, OH: Tiffin Mall Movie Theater Closed, But Not for Long
- Pullman, WA: Village Centre Cinemas Pullman Closing September 5
- Palo Alto, CA: Closed Since 2020, New Plans Dim Hopes for Movie Theater at Palo Alto Square
- Foothill Ranch, CA: Cinemark's Foothill Ranch Town Centre Movie Theater Closed
- Londonderry, NH: AMC Classic Londonderry 10 Closed
- Santa Barbara, CA: Metropolitan Fiesta 5 Theatre Closed
- Estes Park, CO: Stanley Village Shopping Center Movie Theater Closed
- Santa Monica, CA: AMC Broadway 4 Closed
- Norwalk, CA: Milagro Norwalk 8 Opening August 2
- Sturbridge, MA: Former Cinemagic Movie Theater Reopening in Fall Under New Management
- Satellite Beach, FL: Satellite Cinemas Opening August 23
- Springfield, MO: Closed Since January 2023, Downtown Movie Theater Plans Reopening in November
- Houston, TX: Closed Since 2021, River Oaks Theatre Reopening in October
- Yucca Valley, CA: Paradigm Cinemas - Yucca Valley Now Open
- Longview, TX: Film Alley Longview to Replace Former Regal Longview
- Macedonia, OH: See Photos of the New B & B Macedonia 15 -- Now Open!
- South Portland, ME: Entertainment Cinemas - The Shops at Clarks Pond Now Open
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Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/new...ar/ar-AA1rBGs5Grand Illusion is Moving — But It’s Not Going Far
Story by Sarah Stackhouse
After more than 50 years of screenings in the U District, the Grand Illusion Cinema is losing its lease. The historic arthouse, which has been a staple of Seattle’s film scene since 1970, will have to move from its 1403 N.E. 50th St. location by February 2025 — but it’s not the end of the story.
“Our plan has always been to relocate the cinema and build an even grander Grand Illusion,” says Executive Director Brian Alter. “Now we are moving up the timing of that relocation plan.”
The Grand Illusion, known for its red velvet curtains, pressed tin ceiling, and cozy atmosphere, has operated as a nonprofit since 2004 and is the only 100% volunteer-run cinema in the country. A small group of more than 30 volunteers has kept the theater alive through decades of changes. Now, with the building sold and the lease ending, they’re asking for help to secure a new home.
The cinema has launched a relocation campaign, with a goal of staying in the U District. “It will take time and money to recreate the magic,” says Alter. “We’re confident this is possible, and we need our community’s support to make this happen.”
The Grand Illusion has always been more than just a place to watch new movies. As the city’s first arthouse cinema, its eclectic programming — ranging from foreign films and cult classics to late-night oddities — has made it a favorite for Seattlites. Right now, it’s showing the 1999 horror movie Ravenous (which is the scariest thing I’ve ever seen) in 35mm and the 1922 silent film Nosferatu (paired with Radiohead’s Kid A and Amnesiac) as part of its Silent Synched series, along with other interesting picks.
The cinema will close its doors at the current location on Friday, Jan. 31. While it searches for a new space, Grand Illusion is partnering with Northwest Film Forum to host pop-up screenings around the city. More information about those pop-ups will be announced in the coming months.
Grand Illusion Cinema relocating | FOX 13 Seattle
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The Chillicothe Town Theater will cease running 1st run films on Oct 31
full statement via facebook:
"Passing the Torch: A New Beginning
The 2020 pandemic created incredible difficulty for small town theaters. In 2021 the Chillicothe Optimist Town Theatre reached out through GoFundMe in order to keep the doors open. The public responded amazingly! Over $12,650 was raised for a $10,000 goal.
This outpouring of financial support truly showed the heart of the community. These funds allowed the Town Theatre to review and update its business model by adding subscription options and punch cards. While this financial support helped the Town Theatre’s immediate financial need, what didn’t change was an increase in attendance. In order to have a thriving theater the community has to show up. Since reopening, movie habits have changed. Not only for the Town Theatre, but for theaters across the US. People just weren’t coming to the movie theater. The absence of a full house attendance, the price increase of goods and services, combined with the minimum wage increase left a negative monthly impact on the Town Theatre’s budget. The Optimist Town Theatre could no longer fulfill their mission of giving back to the non-profit organizations supporting children within our community.
After much deliberation and extensive research the Optimist Club and the Town Theatre board recognized in order to preserve the Town Theatre’s presence on Historic Downtown 2nd Street the business model would once again need to be changed.
Seeking an entrepreneur with the vision to convert the Town Theatre into a thriving Theatre for Performing Arts, the Optimist Club and Theatre Board met with local businessman Mike Tobin of Tobin Brothers and MKjea Properties LLC. From the initial meeting, Mike not only understood the historic significance of the Town Theatre but had a much bigger vision of what it could become. As a Theatre for Performing Arts, the ability to have musical performances, comedian acts, and a home to the local theater group are all envisioned for the future. While no longer operating as a first run theater, the Theatre for Performing Arts will still be able to show movies.
Since November 2009, through the efforts of the Chillicothe Town Theatre the Optimist Club of Chillicothe has given back over $150,000 to organizations supporting children. In November of 2024, the Optimist Town Theatre is passing the torch to Mike Tobin and looking forward to a new beginning to this historic gem. First run movies will continue to run through the last weekend in October. Grab your family, friends and neighbors for this final chapter of this traditional movie theater. Renovation plans will begin in Spring of 2025 and the opening of the Theatre for Performing Arts is planned to take place late 2025."
Disappointing as this theater has been a first run theater for a long time now I believe.
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I think a lot of the closing timings depend on when leases expire. The balance may be a good sign or may be just coincidence.Originally posted by Scott Jentsch View PostComment
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Scott, It's strange that the 10 screen in Clarksville closed. Clarksville and Ft Campbell, KY are actually connected and Ft Campbell spills over into Clarksville. Not to be able to operate a 10 screen theater in that area really surprises me. Yes, possibly lease related, but if a theater operator can't make a good go of it when there is a local army base, then he sure isn't going to be able to make a go of it either way...
As far as the AMC in Bellevue, I live a couple miles from it. Absolutely the worst AMC I've ever been in!Comment
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Mall-based theaters have had a bad couple of years, and I don't see that trend ending anytime soon. There is little incentive for a theater to move into a mall, as the only benefit is foot traffic, and so many (enclosed) malls are ghost towns just waiting to be converted into open-air malls/towne centers. Although, looking at a directory of the Governor's Square Mall, it appears to be well occupied.Originally posted by Mark Gulbrandsen View Post
I would say that being inside a mall is actually a detriment to business, because people have to go into the mall to get to the theater instead of going right in from the parking lot. Being on the backside of the mall with no exterior entrance exacerbates that issue. The mall will likely be offering pretty good terms to any operator that wants to take over the operation, which would be the best reason for someone to do so, IMO.Comment
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Most of the Malls around here have been going gangbusters. In fact outdoor malls have become the new fad. The AMC Bellevue is at the end of a brand new outdoor mall that was built after the old indoor mall was torn down... about the same time I moved here in early 2018. Lots of stores and restaurants there, most restaurants have outdoor seating. Outdoor seating also seems to be the rage, as many Nashville area restaurants have added outdoor eating space that was not there just a few years ago. Right now, there are 100 people a day moving to Nashville, and the outlying cities like Clarksville, Springfield, Hendersonville and Goodlettsville are building like gangbusters. Hence, if a theater that can not make it here, there is something seriously wrong at, or with, a given location. Or the operator of the theater is just not at all knowledgeable about Cinemas.Originally posted by Scott Jentsch View PostComment
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Many of the mall based theatres around here that were built in the last 10-15 years tend to be attached to the mall but have a direct entrance. One nearby Regal you have to enter the mall but the theatre entrance is just inside the door and is a dedicated entrance for all practical purposes.Originally posted by Scott Jentsch View Post
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Yeah our mall theatres in Austin have been both variations over the years... fully within, or just closely attached. The more modern ones are all part of outdoor shopping areas, or standalone.Originally posted by Lyle Romer View PostComment
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The Edge- Greenville, AL:
Greenville movie theater is reopening
Emma EllisPublished: Nov. 26, 2024 at 9:34 PM CST
GREENVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) - After nearly a year of being closed, Greenville’s only movie theater is reopening.
The Edge closed in 2023, reportedly for financial reasons. Now the city of Greenville owns it and will soon open its doors to movie fans.
“We have a family atmosphere here in Greenville, and all department heads have been involved, from the sanitation to the buildings and grounds, everybody is involved in making Greenville better,” said Greenville’s parks and recreation director, Jerome Harris III.
Harris was in charge of overseeing renovations at the theater, which has eight screens and stadium seating.
The Edge will make watching a movie in Greenville more convenient. While it was closed, residents had to drive more than 30 minutes to see a movie in theaters.
“I’m just ready to see the kids get back in there on the weekends and have something to look forward to,” said Harris. “A lot of times, we sit around a small town like this and we have nowhere to go, but we’re trying to grow Greenville daily and make it better for kids, and we want people to move into this town.”
Harris says the Edge will have all of the newest films people want to see.
“We want to be a first-run theater from here on out,” he said. “We plan to have this thing for the longevity of it and just make it better than it was.”
Harris also says the theater will have space to host events, such as birthday parties.
The movie theater will open the day after Thanksgiving at 3 p.m. It will be open five days a week and will be closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
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AMC 10 movie theater in University District to close this week
Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/enterta...ose-this-week/Jan. 29, 2025 at 12:18 pm Updated Jan. 29, 2025 at 12:18 pm
By Moira Macdonald
Seattle Times arts critic
After more than 35 years of moviegoing in the University District, the 10-screen multiplex now known as the AMC 10 is closing its doors.
A representative for AMC Theatres confirmed Wednesday that the theater will cease operations after close of business on Thursday. The representative did not immediately specify why the theater was closing, noting only that “AMC routinely reviews the theaters in our circuit, as well as opportunities outside of our circuit, and makes decisions based on what will best strengthen the company going forward.”
The theater originally opened as the Metro, part of the Landmark Cinemas chain, in 1989. In 2012, it was acquired by Sundance Cinemas, which transformed the theater into an over-21 venue with food offerings and a full bar. AMC took over the theater in 2017.
The University District, once a hub of cinema, has lost multiple movie theaters in recent years. The Neptune Theatre, though still standing, became a live performance venue in 2011, and the Seven Gables, after closing in 2017, was gutted by fire in 2020. The Grand Illusion will close its doors at its original venue on Jan. 31, after more than 50 years, but has announced plans to reopen at another not-yet-named U District location.Comment
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Given that this theater neither opened nor closed, I'm not sure if this is on topic. But anyways...
image.pngCity of Menifee to Begin Demolition of the Unfinished Krikorian Entertainment Complex
The City of Menifee is moving forward with the demolition of the dilapidated structures located on the Krikorian Entertainment Complex property. The contractor approved by the City Council to conduct the demolition will begin staging equipment on Thursday, January 23 and will start the demolition work on Friday, January 24. The site will be returned to its original state and made ready for future opportunities.
Following years of inaction by the property owner, Showprop Menifee, LLC, and failure to meet building and safety deadlines to move the project forward, the City issued a Notice of Intent to Abate Public Nuisance for the unfinished theater structure (Theater Notice) in October 2023. The Theater Notice required the property owner to tear down the theater structures and restore the property to its prior condition. A Notice of Intent to Abate Public Nuisance was also issued for the existing retail buildings on the property adjacent to Newport Road and Town Center Drive (Retail Pads Notice). The property owner appealed both notices, but a hearing officer denied those appeals and upheld the City’s actions.
Due to the public nuisance and the length of time that the existing construction had been exposed to the elements, a comprehensive inspection of the property was commissioned by the City on April 17, 2024. In order to obtain access to the property, the City first secured a Court-issued Inspection Warrant. The inspection was performed by a team of structural engineers, City Fire Inspectors, and other construction specialists to fully assess the fire, life safety, environmental, and health hazards at the property.
“We share in the community’s frustration that this project has not moved forward and that the site does not represent the high standards we hold for the Menifee community,” said City Manager Armando Villa. “As this is a private project on personally-owned property, it was necessary for us to follow the right legal process to be successful in having the structures removed and the site restored to its original condition to allow for future development opportunities that will benefit our residents.”
Based on the results of the comprehensive inspection, the lack of progress by the property owner to both adequately secure the site and ensure public safety and address the substandard conditions on the property, and in conformance with Menifee Municipal Code, the City Council adopted a resolution on June 5, 2024, that declared the theater property a public nuisance and ordered the owner to, within 30 days, (1) demolish the theater structure (including foundation, etc.); (2) remove all debris and building materials, supplies, and equipment from the theater property; and (3) properly secure the property to ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot enter. The City Council approved a similar resolution for the retail pads on December 17, 2024.
The property owner filed a legal action with the Riverside Superior Court in May 2024 challenging the City’s determination that the theater structure constituted a public nuisance that must be abated. The Court issued a short stay in that action until August 16, 2024. The Court further extended the stay to September 20, 2024, to provide the owner an opportunity to sell the property to an interested buyer. As the property owner failed to secure a sale of the property by the hearing, the Court lifted the stay and authorized the City to move forward with the demolition of the theater structures.
A demolition contract was approved by the City Council on November 20, 2024 with AD Improvements to conduct the demolition work and site clearance at a cost of $231,100, which was the lowest responsive and responsible bid. The City will seek to recover the full costs of abatement through a lien and/or assessment placed on the property, or through direct recovery efforts against the property owner.
The property owner and his attorneys have formally given their consent for the demolition work to move forward. For safety purposes, signs will be posted onsite reminding residents to stay clear of the property while demolition work is completed.
If I remember correctly, construction started just before covid, was halted by covid, and never restarted.
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The Strand Theatre in Kutztown, PA closed in 2022 due to the owner passing away. They were purchased by a local main street organization and are building funds through grants and traditional fundraising to renovate the very old and outdated 2-screen theater. They are now open occasionally for repertory movies and are building up to having a fuller schedule with first-run titles.Comment
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