Tacoma West Cinemas 4-5

dallasmovietheaters on July 9, 2025 at 10:16 pm

Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 and at the same time as its South Cinemas and AMC’s new 8-plex. This property was an extension of the circuit’s Tacoma West 1-3. Built in the multiplex era, the two-screener seemed an odd choice but would make it to the 15-year opt out point of its leasing agreement.

On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas. The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998.

Cineplex Odeon first moved on from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. This two-screen venue continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon throwing in the towel undoubtedly at the 15-year opt out of its lease on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.” The venue was used for many years as a house of worship likely to reduce the taxing liability of the property.

50sSNIPES on June 29, 2023 at 10:11 am

Later (and last) operated by Cineplex Odeon after the chain took over SRO in December 1986. It started life as a first-run house but flipped to a discount house during its last couple of years in operation.