KCRag Forum

moderne wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:50 pm May 21 is the closing day for the Cinemark Palace. Entire complex being shutdown, not retaining space in old
Sears.

What’s going in?

So ridiculous that the Plaza won’t have a single
Movie theatre.

That is really bizarre. Theaters are almost always a big part of a mixed use urban district like the plaza. Every single district similar to the plaza (most are downtown of suburbs), in the DC area has a major theater complex. So this will leave the entire urban core with one theater? Seems like an opportunity for something to go up in midtown or something.

GRID wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:50 pm That is really bizarre. Theaters are almost always a big part of a mixed use urban district like the plaza. Every single district similar to the plaza (most are downtown of suburbs), in the DC area has a major theater complex. So this will leave the entire urban core with one theater? Seems like an opportunity for something to go up in midtown or something.

If only one of the hometown theatre chains would build a flagship location in the core.

GRID wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:50 pm So this will leave the entire urban core with one theater? Seems like an opportunity for something to go up in midtown or something.

It is sad that there will no longer be a cinema multiplex on the Plaza, which still remains an obvious place to have one.

The remaining theaters serving KCMO south of the river are Tivoli in Westport (art house); Alamo Drafthouse downtown; Screenland Crossroads (art house); and the AMC Ward Parkway 14.

I hope another company (NOT Regal!) will take over the space in the old Seville Square building - there's no reason a cinema couldn't be profitable there with the right management. I'm really going to miss being able to decide to go to a movie at the last minute, have covered parking during inclement weather, buy a ticket for less than $5 and (usually) not worry about a bunch of kids running around.

With AMC Ward Parkway we spend $40 for two on tickets, drinks and popcorn versus half that at Cinemark. And it's a 20 minute drive. Granted, Cinemark's employees couldn't care less about being there and the general upkeep was sorely lacking. Alamo's seat are uncomfortable and if anything big is going on at Bartle, Music Hall or Sprint Center you never know how long it will take to park or ride the streetcar.

Living near the place this is a huge loss. The Cinemark was so affordable and it was a quick walk or easy to find parking when going there. i'll miss it.

Good opportunity to rehab the old Plaza Theater! Only half joking - would love to see it happen if there is even a fraction of the original theater space and architectural detail left.

I don't see this as a huge loss - these theaters took up a ton of space and were empty a lot of the time. Also not sure that the business case for large multiplex theaters is that robust these days - wouldn't be surprised if we see more similar closings moving forward, with the market moving towards fewer, more boutique options.

I do agree that we could use another mainstream theater in the center of the urban core, albeit a smaller one. Flagship AMC (like the original Mainstreet) would be ideal - maybe in a midtown location.

Don't think they are going away. They continue to open new ones and modernize older ones in the DC area in places like Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, Alexandria, etc. I think theaters are still a very important part of a major dense mixed used district (urban or suburban). People that live in the plaza area will now have to get in their cars and drive to a suburban location. Ward Parkway is suburban.

rxlexi wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:04 am Good opportunity to rehab the old Plaza Theater! Only half joking - would love to see it happen if there is even a fraction of the original theater space and architectural detail left.

I don't see this as a huge loss - these theaters took up a ton of space and were empty a lot of the time. Also not sure that the business case for large multiplex theaters is that robust these days - wouldn't be surprised if we see more similar closings moving forward, with the market moving towards fewer, more boutique options.

I do agree that we could use another mainstream theater in the center of the urban core, albeit a smaller one. Flagship AMC (like the original Mainstreet) would be ideal - maybe in a midtown location.

You don't see this as a loss but think we could use another mainstream theatre in the urban core? Retaining theatres in the older portion would be perfect for a boutique cinema, maybe something age-restricted. For many years I went there every week and feel like the issues were related to poorly-used space, poor upkeep, poor management and poorly-behaved teens on the weekends. No reason it couldn't work with fewer screens, reconfiguration, proper management and upscaling to an older crowd.

Unless they're going to find a way to put something like Crate & Barrel, Container Store or something similar, that building doesn't have much use in today's retail world and will likely end up as business space IMO.

Think about what it shows that the urban core couldn't support the affordable movie theatre. It means there isn't the economic capacity today for another one.

The theatre already has the coming soon signage up for it's replacement. A large part is becoming Nordstrom but I don't remember the name for other side I saw this weekend.

That's a shame. That'll leave only one Cinemark in the whole metro. Can't help but wonder if they'll exit the market entirely.

Also can't discount that the theaters got a disproportionate share of blame for the #TeenLoiteringProblem a few years ago. Given that the new owners seem to go for the easiest fix on things, wouldn't be surprised if they just chose not to offer a lease extension.

FWIW, theater takeovers happen all the time, it'd be nice if Alamo or AMC remodeled the remaining theaters here. Most newer complexes are already in the 6-12 theaters range. IIRC tho, this remaining portion doesn't have any large houses which hinders its appeal to operators.

kcjak wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:55 am

rxlexi wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:04 am Good opportunity to rehab the old Plaza Theater! Only half joking - would love to see it happen if there is even a fraction of the original theater space and architectural detail left.

I don't see this as a huge loss - these theaters took up a ton of space and were empty a lot of the time. Also not sure that the business case for large multiplex theaters is that robust these days - wouldn't be surprised if we see more similar closings moving forward, with the market moving towards fewer, more boutique options.

I do agree that we could use another mainstream theater in the center of the urban core, albeit a smaller one. Flagship AMC (like the original Mainstreet) would be ideal - maybe in a midtown location.

You don't see this as a loss but think we could use another mainstream theatre in the urban core? Retaining theatres in the older portion would be perfect for a boutique cinema, maybe something age-restricted. For many years I went there every week and feel like the issues were related to poorly-used space, poor upkeep, poor management and poorly-behaved teens on the weekends. No reason it couldn't work with fewer screens, reconfiguration, proper management and upscaling to an older crowd.

Unless they're going to find a way to put something like Crate & Barrel, Container Store or something similar, that building doesn't have much use in today's retail world and will likely end up as business space IMO.

or another parking garage?

We had the best theater in the city DT with the AMC. Alamo bought it and ruined it.

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:37 pm We had the best theater in the city DT with the AMC. Alamo bought it and ruined it.

AMC and Cordish had differences

horizons82 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:50 pm That's a shame. That'll leave only one Cinemark in the whole metro. Can't help but wonder if they'll exit the market entirely.

Also can't discount that the theaters got a disproportionate share of blame for the #TeenLoiteringProblem a few years ago. Given that the new owners seem to go for the easiest fix on things, wouldn't be surprised if they just chose not to offer a lease extension.

FWIW, theater takeovers happen all the time, it'd be nice if Alamo or AMC remodeled the remaining theaters here. Most newer complexes are already in the 6-12 theaters range. IIRC tho, this remaining portion doesn't have any large houses which hinders its appeal to operators.

who owners the seats, projectors, and rest of equipment in the theater?

nomadcowatbk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:00 pm

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:37 pm We had the best theater in the city DT with the AMC. Alamo bought it and ruined it.

AMC and Cordish had differences

Cordish wants young adults and hookup zones and Guy Fiero. That’s not going to reinvigorate DT to the level it should be. It’s proven with their continued vacancies. You have to attract from every demographic. Why is it wrong to have a movie theater DT that is accessible to families?

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:55 pm

nomadcowatbk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:00 pm

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:37 pm We had the best theater in the city DT with the AMC. Alamo bought it and ruined it.

AMC and Cordish had differences

Cordish wants young adults and hookup zones and Guy Fiero. That’s not going to reinvigorate DT to the level it should be. It’s proven with their continued vacancies. You have to attract from every demographic. Why is it wrong to have a movie theater DT that is accessible to families?

No reason why AMC couldn't build new in the Crossroads.

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:55 pm

nomadcowatbk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:00 pm

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:37 pm We had the best theater in the city DT with the AMC. Alamo bought it and ruined it.

AMC and Cordish had differences

Cordish wants young adults and hookup zones and Guy Fiero. That’s not going to reinvigorate DT to the level it should be. It’s proven with their continued vacancies. You have to attract from every demographic. Why is it wrong to have a movie theater DT that is accessible to families?

families will just wait for movies to come to home release since theatrical runs are getting shorter if they have one at all, and if they want to see a $15 per person movie and deal with parking, overpriced concessions, and a half hour of previews, then any suburban multiplex will be more convenient, already lots in JOCO south of 435, why drag the kids DT for the latest Disney flick and drive by a closer multiplex? kids don't care where they see it if they aren't paying

^^ Correct ^^

Would think DT Alamo will make some adjustments given Cinemark closing. As the industry is becoming another victim of the Internet age (like book stores, record stores, video stores, etc), they'll exist as a smaller specialized niche than mainstream (like book stores and record stores).