MOVIE THEATER DOWNTOWN JAX!?!?!

[thelakelander]

The problem, I believe, isn't that there's no market for a downtown theater, it's that there's no market for the 18+ screen megaplexes that local developers have grown accustomed to building for the last 15 years or so, and they aren't in the mood to adapt. As I said before I think there are easily enough people in the core and surrounding neighborhoods for a mid-sized theater to work somewhere in the vicinity; downtown would be preferable.

Here's a quote from a forum member who owns a movie theater in town:

The movie business is very tough for a single screen theatre! 

I am told that the Florida Theatre is very expensive to run, and needs a lot of staff.  That said, if you fill it up for one show a week (with 1,500 seats), you'd make more than many suburban screens do all week.  The Tampa Theatre works like that.

Overall the movie business is scared right now...  Ever-improving home theater systems and widespread video piracy make theater chains worried that no one will actually go out to the movies anymore.  The new theater up by the airport has seriously under-performed (because the house that were planned nearby haven't been built yet).

If there is a market for a movie theater of any kind in DT, the private sector will get it built.  The city has more things to worry about then forcing the issue or educating industry professionals on how they should be designing their own facilities to maximize their profits and determining specific sites for where they're concepts should be located.

[Tacachale]

The problem, I believe, isn't that there's no market for a downtown theater, it's that there's no market for the 18+ screen megaplexes that local developers have grown accustomed to building for the last 15 years or so, and they aren't in the mood to adapt. As I said before I think there are easily enough people in the core and surrounding neighborhoods for a mid-sized theater to work somewhere in the vicinity; downtown would be preferable.

Here's a quote from a forum member who owns a movie theater in town:

The movie business is very tough for a single screen theatre! 

I am told that the Florida Theatre is very expensive to run, and needs a lot of staff.  That said, if you fill it up for one show a week (with 1,500 seats), you'd make more than many suburban screens do all week.  The Tampa Theatre works like that.

Overall the movie business is scared right now...  Ever-improving home theater systems and widespread video piracy make theater chains worried that no one will actually go out to the movies anymore.  The new theater up by the airport has seriously under-performed (because the house that were planned nearby haven't been built yet).

If there is a market for a movie theater of any kind in DT, the private sector will get it built.  The city has more things to worry about then forcing the issue or educating industry professionals on how they should be designing their own facilities to maximize their profits and determining specific sites for where they're concepts should be located.

Never said the city should force the issue or take the lead on it; in fact I said the opposite. But I don't buy the argument that there's no market for a downtown theater simply because no one has built one yet. Mid sized theaters and downtown theaters can work, and do in other places. As 5 Points notes there are other factors at work against such a project beyond the suitability of the core as a location.

[cline]

But I don't buy the argument that there's no market for a downtown theater simply because no one has built one yet. Mid sized theaters and downtown theaters can work, and do in other places.

Well then explain why no movie theater company is rushing in to tap this insanely lucrative market that everyone seems to be overlooking.  I mean, there's obviously ample parking as well as many vacant lots. 

[Tacachale]

^Because for the last 15 years local developers have only built huge megaplexes, and those would probably not work downtown. Because the local market is glutted with theaters out in the suburbs. Because, as 5 Points Theatre notes, the national theater chains are in general worried about the future of their business, meaning they're less likely to want take a risk or try something new.

All of those things are beside the suitability of the urban core for a movie theater.

My only point is that mid-sized theaters and downtown theaters can work, and that it would be cool if we had one in our downtown.

[thelakelander]

I agree that downtown theaters can work in certain environments and markets.

But I don't buy the argument that there's no market for a downtown theater simply because no one has built one yet. Mid sized theaters and downtown theaters can work, and do in other places. As 5 Points notes there are other factors at work against such a project beyond the suitability of the core as a location.

One thing at play is that we probably already have a saturated market.  For a city our size, we have several theaters and the majority are intended to pull from more than the neighborhoods immediately surrounding them.  Also, its been revealed by one in the industry that some of our existing facilities are already struggling.  That could significantly impact a company's decision on a market, regardless of what happens to be "in or not in" a specific downtown environment.  Again, from a city standpoint, its just something I wouldn't even waste time on since its beyond a municipality's control.

[Ethylene]

Would it be out of the realm of possibility to include a movie theater on the Park View Inn property? Can anyone else visualize that prospect?

[duvaldude08]

I'm sticking to my guns. If we have a movie theather downtown, people will come. There are not ANY movie theatre's located near riverside, san Marco, avondale, springfield, etc etc. I am more than sure that those residents alone will make the theatre a success. Not to mention someone like me who will drive from Baymeadows to go to the movies DT just because. 
That sounds like a market to me.

[acme54321]

I'm sticking to my guns. If we have a movie theather downtown, people will come. There are not ANY movie theatre's located near riverside, san Marco, avondale, springfield, etc etc. I am more than sure that those residents alone will make the theatre a success. Not to mention someone like me who will drive from Baymeadows to go to the movies DT just because. 
That sounds like a market to me.

Except for San Marco Theatre and Five Points Theatre? 

[5 Points Theatre]

Very few people will drive downtown to see a movie if it's playing at a multiplex near them.  Very few people drove downtown to shop at the Banana Republic and Gap at the Landing - they went to the Avenue instead.



At the 5 Points Theatre, we've done best when we've got movies that aren't showing anywhere else in town.  Right now we've got Submarine (exclusively in town), two special events this week (a doc on wounded veteran athletes and another on the Sea Shepherds).  Next week we'll have Tree of Life and a program with silent comedies with a live score.  The week after, Beginners (exclusively) and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

When we showed more mainstream movies we didn't do as well.

The places that work downtown are the ones that are unique.  I think that's why the Burrito Gallery has done so well and many of the dance clubs at the Landing struggle.

[iMarvin]

Plenty of people will go downtown to see a movie. There's no place to go see a mainstream movie right now anywhere in the urban core. There are plenty of people that arre sick of having to go to the suburbs to go to see a movie and then there are people who will go just to support it.

[thelakelander]

If there is a market to support a DT venue, some one from the private sector will step up to the plate.

[duvaldude08]

I'm sticking to my guns. If we have a movie theather downtown, people will come. There are not ANY movie theatre's located near riverside, san Marco, avondale, springfield, etc etc. I am more than sure that those residents alone will make the theatre a success. Not to mention someone like me who will drive from Baymeadows to go to the movies DT just because. 
That sounds like a market to me.

Except for San Marco Theatre and Five Points Theatre? 

They dont play anything worth seeing LOL I have never had to desire to go to either.

[Jaimen]

I like the sound of having dinner and a movie in DT Jax and if we're not too tired, maybe a stroll along the riverwalk...sounds like a nice time in DT!!!

[acme54321]

I'm sticking to my guns. If we have a movie theather downtown, people will come. There are not ANY movie theatre's located near riverside, san Marco, avondale, springfield, etc etc. I am more than sure that those residents alone will make the theatre a success. Not to mention someone like me who will drive from Baymeadows to go to the movies DT just because. 
That sounds like a market to me.

Except for San Marco Theatre and Five Points Theatre? 

They dont play anything worth seeing LOL I have never had to desire to go to either.

Ok 5 Points doesn't usually play the kind of stuff I am wanting to go see.  San Marco however does.  In the last few months we have been to True Grit, Hangover II, and something else there (maybe Black Swan).  They only hve one movie for a couple of weeks at a time but it's generally something that is also playing in the megaplexes and usually one of the more adult movies.  Now they are playing Larry Crowne, then this weekend moving to Cowboys and Aliens.

[tufsu1]

Plenty of people will go downtown to see a movie. There's no place to go see a mainstream movie right now anywhere in the urban core.

the AMC @ Regency is about 5 miles away