The lights may also go out on the Chelsea Theatre
CHAPEL HILL, NC — Rumors have been speculating that owner Bruce Stone is also putting on sale another independent owned and operated Chapel Hill movie house… the Chelsea,which is an independent three screen cinema located at 1129 Weaver Dairy Road in the Timberlyne Shopping Center in the Northern section of Chapel Hill.
The Chelsea is the second independent arthouse cinema operating in the greater Chapel Hill area. It was originally a twin cinema when it opened in 1998,but somewhere in the late 1990’s,a third screen was added. This was a cinema that showcased a lot of independent films as well as foreign released and first-run features.
Last week, owner Bruce Stone, who had already said he wants to sell the Franklin Street theater, confirmed he is also trying to sell his three-screen Chelsea Theater in Timberlyne shopping center.
“It would be a package deal,” he said.
Times are tough and getting tougher, Stone said.
More on this story at the Chapel Hill News.
Comments (2)
The Chelsea opened somewhere in 1991 or 1992 as a twin cinema in the Timberlyne Shopping Center. Somewhere later on a third screen was added. The theatre didn’t open in 1998. It is the only second arthouse theatre in Chapel Hill(besides the Varsity Theatre in Chapel Hill)
As of June 26, 2009,the Chelsea on Weaver Dairy Road at Timberlyne Shopping Center remains the only independently owned and operated movie house in Chapel Hill.
As of June 26, 2009,the Varsity Theatre on East Franklin Street in Downtown Chapel Hill has closed its doors forever,leaving the Downtown area without a movie house. The theatre has been rumored to be turned into a performing arts center. No word on that will be mentioned.