Nick,
the building, and fixtures though 90’s pre-stadium, are turn-key for an operator that can get the right terms (RIGHT TERMS) being the catch. The mall has such high expectations I hope that Frank is RENT FREE till 2013 because if they expect to do the renovations I have heard, they will need every ounce of capital available to make it happen.
If they were to make this a “Destination Location” offering a variety of venues such as a bowling and game room along with a Stadium retrofit theaters for the top 12 they would not loose significant seating due to the large size of the Auditorius as they currently exist (6 over 400 seats) they could loose 1000 seats and with attendance records at this location in the last few yrs noone would miss them. It would take a substantial amount of time to re-coup the investment required to compete with the modern stadium theaters around it!
as for converting to retail space noone would want 70K sq feet in a mall that already is missing one anchor and operates a Dillards that uses 1/3 of its sales floor and operates as a clearance store till its lease is up and can bail!
Ya I am not sure what is happening I was told that everything is in storage and ready to go in, but construction delays and the landlord are holding it back.. All I can say is RENT CREDIT and I hope he’s not paying anything right now either if he is waiting for the owner of the building and dealing with insurance companies.
Opening after X-Mas is death till summer!
Chuck
Wow I’m suprised, it appears Frank is running it as a 12 plex possibly with the lower 4 cinemas closed in the Frank fashion. When they opened the Venice theaters they advertised 12 screens in reality they only had built 11 and left the 12th a shell.
I’m curious how long this Venture will last… And what commitment Frank has made to the mall in a renovations agreement… A 16 screen digital upgrade in late 2012 will be a huge chunk of change to one of the last Cobb non-stadium builds of the 80’s.
Cobb is building a NEW 12 screen theater attached to the mall near this location. Obviously Cobb understands the NON-NECESSITY of over screening the area.. If I remember correctly signs said opening Summer 2012,
Talked with the owner last week, and the Restaurant/Bar next door should be open the 8th.
They are having Issues with the landlords insurance companies that are dragging their feet with repairs from roof damage and other water related issues.
All the A/C and roof has been replaced, and the equipment is in warehouse storage waiting to go in once the insurance adjusters pay out on the claims at hand.
Expected opening date is ASAP.
Chuck
Stumbled upon the building today, not sure if they are having permit or construction problems, but a newspaper article stated a May opening and it’s now July and there is no front on the building.
Unless there is substantial work that has been done to the theaters, there is no lobby, or front wall, indicating that at this point it probably won’t open till closer to Thanksgiving.
Chuck v
This theater had a photo taken by a local TV station from the helicopter showing flood waters up to the bottom of the buildings front marquee. This leads me to believe that anything on the floor below the projection booth is a worthless total loss..
The picture is a screen shot from the tv from a flooding video that was on tv during the floods. I don’t know how to post it w/out a link.
Ironicly enough Mall management has dreams of finding an operator stupid enough to CHUNK DOWN a cool Million to retro-fit and bring this theater to the 21st century, as this was one of the last Cobbs to be built with slope seating.
There is too much NEW competition in the 10 mile radius including Muvico, Cobb and AMC operating Stadium theaters less than 8 Yrs Old! Who in their right mind would pay .25 more to go to the university than these newer theaters, unless they wanted a private performance.
Wake up and smell the $$ University Mall…. a Discount House here at $2 matinees and $4 evenings would pack the house, Families and give the college students somewhere they could afford to come to again.
Wishing him the best of luck in this economy, hopefully the lower than market average pricing will attract the customers that may appreciate not being taken to the cleaners at $10-$12 A ticket!
Pete, are you saying that the plaza owner wants the theater to go first run? Or the operator? There is no way in you know where that they could make money as a 1st run location without a gut-rehab. It is destined as a sub run for the rest of it’s life. I would not see anyone invesitng that much money in such an old location with too much new competition!
I am dissapointed to hear that they are not marketing, and operating the location as it could be a gold mine as a dollar house if someone came in and cleaned the crap out of it! The dust on the speakers was 3 inches thick when I was here this this time last year. If you are aware if this is a yearly lease, I know a successful operator with 9 locations (6 being discount houses) that has equipment who would love to come into Tampa!
Chuck
did this theater re-open after the floods earlier this year. Arial photos showed this theater completely under water at least to the bottom of the front marquee.
It is called, competition KILLED IT.. I suspect the proximity of the new Regal Stadium and possible split booking zone allowed for it to not be able to compete for the big movies anymore.
I am not sure on the seat counts on the auditoriums, but for it to be stadium, probably a retrofit makes them smaller.
It appeared recently on a listing thru a realtor’s website, and the info sent to me stated that it was stadium seating which the seats were in great condition.. 2 screens were damaged, all other building issues were in good shape, and a new owner would need to bring in booth and concession equipment, along with computers and cash registers to re-open as a cinema.
Not sure if the development idea got halted for some reason, but I am not from the area, and am not familiar with who the original owner of this location was.
I can remember how cool it was because the projection booth was visible from a platform in the lobby with a long glass wall. been decades since I have been there the last I remember was the early 90’s when it was all boarded up, and looking at a wrecking ball with the whole continent complex.
Not sure how anyone expected to re-open this as a 1st run location with all the over screening by AMC and CINEMARK in the area. Supprised it didn’t make it as an art house because the DREXEL is all the way on the east side!
If I make it back up to columbus in the next year I will have to stop by and check it out.
Current construction is under way to re-open the cinema as a COBB Cinebistro' with 6 auditoriums.. this is a absolute GUT RE-HAB and I suspect that there will be no remenents of it’s former AMC or Madstone Decor, as all exit doors had been re-located on the back walls, and the walls have been moved inside.
I managed this location prior to Sunrise getting booted by developers, as the condos that were to be built are not anymore.
The latest sign I saw was opening in Late Fall 09'
In October 2008 I happened by this location and had noticed it was closed.. Zota had opted out of renewing it’s month to month lease. All of the A/C units were toast and multiple celing damage could be seen from the faulty units.
I managed to meet with a real estate broker for the property,and took a LOT of pictures. it was turn-key (Necessity of a DEEP CLEANING) Victoria 5 projectors.
Balcony is split in 2 (Stadium seating <G>) elevator and stairs. There are 6 houses downstairs, 3 on each side of a center hallway, the hallway getting narrower as you go down, as the splitting of the original house to accomidate the 6 houses.
seating appeared to be ranging from 80-185. I guess the last time I drove by in July 09, there was a sign up saying they were re-opening on the 31st Haven’t seen the times in the paper yet so I wonder if they did get open.
Once the “Submit Photo’s” link is up I will post them.
This theater started as a 6 plex and sometime in the last 2 years expanded to 10.
I have never been inside this location, but it appears to be built like a warehouse with metal roof and one long hallway. I believe that the new 4 houses are stadium, and the original 6 are not.
This theater was closed before Christmas 2008, and was the last 1st run NON-STADIUM theater in its area. It has been demolished to make room for a new office supply store to anchor the plaza.
Nick, the building, and fixtures though 90’s pre-stadium, are turn-key for an operator that can get the right terms (RIGHT TERMS) being the catch. The mall has such high expectations I hope that Frank is RENT FREE till 2013 because if they expect to do the renovations I have heard, they will need every ounce of capital available to make it happen. If they were to make this a “Destination Location” offering a variety of venues such as a bowling and game room along with a Stadium retrofit theaters for the top 12 they would not loose significant seating due to the large size of the Auditorius as they currently exist (6 over 400 seats) they could loose 1000 seats and with attendance records at this location in the last few yrs noone would miss them. It would take a substantial amount of time to re-coup the investment required to compete with the modern stadium theaters around it!
as for converting to retail space noone would want 70K sq feet in a mall that already is missing one anchor and operates a Dillards that uses 1/3 of its sales floor and operates as a clearance store till its lease is up and can bail!
Ya I am not sure what is happening I was told that everything is in storage and ready to go in, but construction delays and the landlord are holding it back.. All I can say is RENT CREDIT and I hope he’s not paying anything right now either if he is waiting for the owner of the building and dealing with insurance companies. Opening after X-Mas is death till summer! Chuck
THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO OPEN STATUS
Wow I’m suprised, it appears Frank is running it as a 12 plex possibly with the lower 4 cinemas closed in the Frank fashion. When they opened the Venice theaters they advertised 12 screens in reality they only had built 11 and left the 12th a shell.
I’m curious how long this Venture will last… And what commitment Frank has made to the mall in a renovations agreement… A 16 screen digital upgrade in late 2012 will be a huge chunk of change to one of the last Cobb non-stadium builds of the 80’s.
Chuck
Cobb is building a NEW 12 screen theater attached to the mall near this location. Obviously Cobb understands the NON-NECESSITY of over screening the area.. If I remember correctly signs said opening Summer 2012,
Talked with the owner last week, and the Restaurant/Bar next door should be open the 8th. They are having Issues with the landlords insurance companies that are dragging their feet with repairs from roof damage and other water related issues. All the A/C and roof has been replaced, and the equipment is in warehouse storage waiting to go in once the insurance adjusters pay out on the claims at hand. Expected opening date is ASAP. Chuck
this theater was built and has always been a $1 theater. It prompted AMC to keep adding on screens in Dublin to keep customers..
Stumbled upon the building today, not sure if they are having permit or construction problems, but a newspaper article stated a May opening and it’s now July and there is no front on the building.
Unless there is substantial work that has been done to the theaters, there is no lobby, or front wall, indicating that at this point it probably won’t open till closer to Thanksgiving. Chuck v
This theater had a photo taken by a local TV station from the helicopter showing flood waters up to the bottom of the buildings front marquee. This leads me to believe that anything on the floor below the projection booth is a worthless total loss..
The picture is a screen shot from the tv from a flooding video that was on tv during the floods. I don’t know how to post it w/out a link.
Chuck V
May 2011 and NO ACTIVITY HERE
Ironicly enough Mall management has dreams of finding an operator stupid enough to CHUNK DOWN a cool Million to retro-fit and bring this theater to the 21st century, as this was one of the last Cobbs to be built with slope seating.
There is too much NEW competition in the 10 mile radius including Muvico, Cobb and AMC operating Stadium theaters less than 8 Yrs Old! Who in their right mind would pay .25 more to go to the university than these newer theaters, unless they wanted a private performance.
Wake up and smell the $$ University Mall…. a Discount House here at $2 matinees and $4 evenings would pack the house, Families and give the college students somewhere they could afford to come to again.
Chuck V
yep it’s there! hope they actually spent some money instead of dusting the cobwebs and turning the power back on.
Wishing him the best of luck in this economy, hopefully the lower than market average pricing will attract the customers that may appreciate not being taken to the cleaners at $10-$12 A ticket!
Chuck
Pete, are you saying that the plaza owner wants the theater to go first run? Or the operator? There is no way in you know where that they could make money as a 1st run location without a gut-rehab. It is destined as a sub run for the rest of it’s life. I would not see anyone invesitng that much money in such an old location with too much new competition!
I am dissapointed to hear that they are not marketing, and operating the location as it could be a gold mine as a dollar house if someone came in and cleaned the crap out of it! The dust on the speakers was 3 inches thick when I was here this this time last year. If you are aware if this is a yearly lease, I know a successful operator with 9 locations (6 being discount houses) that has equipment who would love to come into Tampa!
Chuck
did this theater re-open after the floods earlier this year. Arial photos showed this theater completely under water at least to the bottom of the front marquee.
It is called, competition KILLED IT.. I suspect the proximity of the new Regal Stadium and possible split booking zone allowed for it to not be able to compete for the big movies anymore.
I am not sure on the seat counts on the auditoriums, but for it to be stadium, probably a retrofit makes them smaller.
It appeared recently on a listing thru a realtor’s website, and the info sent to me stated that it was stadium seating which the seats were in great condition.. 2 screens were damaged, all other building issues were in good shape, and a new owner would need to bring in booth and concession equipment, along with computers and cash registers to re-open as a cinema.
Not sure if the development idea got halted for some reason, but I am not from the area, and am not familiar with who the original owner of this location was.
CORRECTION…. screens8.net is the correct site, the other one will eventually link you there.
Chuck
www.thescreensatthecontinent.com
is the current link to the theater.
I can remember how cool it was because the projection booth was visible from a platform in the lobby with a long glass wall. been decades since I have been there the last I remember was the early 90’s when it was all boarded up, and looking at a wrecking ball with the whole continent complex.
Not sure how anyone expected to re-open this as a 1st run location with all the over screening by AMC and CINEMARK in the area. Supprised it didn’t make it as an art house because the DREXEL is all the way on the east side!
If I make it back up to columbus in the next year I will have to stop by and check it out.
Nowhere in the article does it say how many screens are at the cinema, and it is not on the brokers website.
I am not familiar with the location or story behind this theater, but oddly enough at least it won’t be leveled to put up a Walmart.
Current construction is under way to re-open the cinema as a COBB Cinebistro' with 6 auditoriums.. this is a absolute GUT RE-HAB and I suspect that there will be no remenents of it’s former AMC or Madstone Decor, as all exit doors had been re-located on the back walls, and the walls have been moved inside.
I managed this location prior to Sunrise getting booted by developers, as the condos that were to be built are not anymore.
The latest sign I saw was opening in Late Fall 09'
In October 2008 I happened by this location and had noticed it was closed.. Zota had opted out of renewing it’s month to month lease. All of the A/C units were toast and multiple celing damage could be seen from the faulty units.
I managed to meet with a real estate broker for the property,and took a LOT of pictures. it was turn-key (Necessity of a DEEP CLEANING) Victoria 5 projectors.
Balcony is split in 2 (Stadium seating <G>) elevator and stairs. There are 6 houses downstairs, 3 on each side of a center hallway, the hallway getting narrower as you go down, as the splitting of the original house to accomidate the 6 houses.
seating appeared to be ranging from 80-185. I guess the last time I drove by in July 09, there was a sign up saying they were re-opening on the 31st Haven’t seen the times in the paper yet so I wonder if they did get open.
Once the “Submit Photo’s” link is up I will post them.
Wow still operating as a Movie Tavern today 8/10/2009..
This theater started as a 6 plex and sometime in the last 2 years expanded to 10.
I have never been inside this location, but it appears to be built like a warehouse with metal roof and one long hallway. I believe that the new 4 houses are stadium, and the original 6 are not.
Did anyone think about going in and running 2nd run movies here? Is the mall still standing, and did they scorch and burn on the way out?
This theater was closed before Christmas 2008, and was the last 1st run NON-STADIUM theater in its area. It has been demolished to make room for a new office supply store to anchor the plaza.