Xscape Theatres Northgate 14

Northgate Mall was reeling with the loss of a major anchor in JC Penney in 2006. But Feldman Malls Co. signed Rave Motion Picture Circuit for a state-of-the-art all-digital facility in October of 2007 as part of a $40 million refresh. JC Penney’s vacant anchor spot was razed in 2008.

But the next twelve months found the Mall losing another anchor in Dillards and shedding a number of interior stores leading to financial issues. In 2012, the Tabani Group took on the Northgate and somehow convinced Xscape Theater Corp. to finally build the 14-screen facility in the former Penney’s spot.

The Xscape Northgate 14 had a soft launch opening on January 22, 2015. Xscape Northgate feature two Xtreme screens that are more than 65 feet wide with ceiling height of four stories. Xscape said it would experiment with late night screening. It stated that if late night showings proved popular, they would make sure those occurred, concluding: “We watch for the patterns".

Within five months, the pattern was clearly trouble as incidents in the theatre led to a 9pm curfew. Things didn’t improve from there as the theatre then imposed a 5pm curfew policy with no youths being dropped off for showtimes at 5pm or later.

The Northgate Mall devolved to greyfield status - a term akin to a dead mall - as it shed both its Sears and Macy’s anchors thereafter and dropped to under 50% occupancy. The Food Court featured more empty stalls then actual open food destinations. The Xscape closed temporarily in March of 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened months later continuing operations with its 5pm curfew in place and Northgate Mall with an uncertain future. Plans were drawn up in 2019 that would slice up the Mall taking it to an outdoor shopping complex but those plans were on hold as of 2022. The theatre was closed in early-December 2023.

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