Riverside Mall 8
Highway 12 N. and Highway 49,
Utica,
NY
13502
Highway 12 N. and Highway 49,
Utica,
NY
13502
4 people
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Also, it looks like the majority of the mall was demolished/turned into a strip-center, the portion with the theater appears demolished.
I just uploaded three pictures I found online. The first is an early directory of the mall and the second is an aerial photo showing what I strongly believe is the Hoyt’s 8-plex in the same place as the original theater. I can’t say for certain but I would say the Riverside 8 is in the same place as the original theater.
The third doesn’t say whether it was the 8-plex or the original theater, but does say it’s the Riverside Mall Cinema in Utica and the snack bar signs do have a Hoyts logo, so I would feel safe in assuming it was he 8-plex.
Cool picture.
But, I guess I’m asking, what did you see in your research that made you say the original theater was closed and the new one built elsewhere vs. the new one being a remodel and expansion of the original?
Afraid not. But i found another picture.
Do you have any more details on the theater closing in 1989 and being relocated?
Closed December 3rd, 1989 and reopened elsewhere in the mall on May 18th, 1990 by Hoyts. small ad posted.
I worked there from 1982 till I graduated from college in 1993. It was Cinema National in 1982 and was Hoyts when I left. I miss this place every day of my life..Old Cinemas Rule!!
Opening date: November 29th, 1974
I always cared for Riverside over Sangertown, the seats were better and they had cup holders. Plus Riverside mall was just better overall in my opinion, it had a nicer layout than Sangertown.
I had a blast seeing Election here with some friends back in the spring of 1999 but didn’t get to the Riverside much. It had intense competition from the Sangertown Square 9 in New Hartford. That said, the place had that great rundown 80’s charm and the concessions were cheap. Wish I could remember more of what I saw there.
Riverside cinemas closed in April 2005. Shortly after(sometime between closing and when I was there in 08), because of the lack of heat in the building a pipe froze and burst, in turn filling the bulding with water until it started flowing out of the back door and someone noticed.
When I went in there in 2008, there was mold covering the majority of the carpeted walls. All the seats and projectors had been removed but most of the snack bar still remained.
This past summer (2012) I was driving through and noticed there were some constuction workers at the entrance. So I parked and went over to chat.. The guys told me that someone from NYC had purchased the building and wanted it gutted and thats all they knew. They kindly let me in to see, and it was really odd seeing the entire building opened up all the way to the roof.
I beleive the location of the original 3 cinemas was NOT where the “8” were, I think they were on the backside of the mall closer to where “BJs” is… Can anyone confirm this? Had to be in the mid to late 80’s that it changed.
3 cinemas in May 1974. Grand opening ad posted here from the Old Fulton NY postcards.