How to start a dinner and a Movie Theater

posted by lisanov15 on August 24, 2009 at 7:30 am

Hi! I would like to open up a movie theater with dinner options in my medium size home town. I would appreciate any advice anyone has to give. Also, do you think it has any potential to be successful?

Comments (5)

Robert Allen
Robert Allen on August 24, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Go here http://www.mcmenamins.com/ They are running a number of such theatres in the Portland, Oregon area. Perhaps they would be willing to give you some info.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on August 24, 2009 at 10:24 pm

Or perhaps the Greenbrier Cinema & Grill in Indianapolis, website here: http://www.cinemagrillonline.net/ I have been to a few of them. My impression is that they work in some places, but in not in others, though why, I do not know. I do know that running a restaurant is hard work, tougher than many realize. And running a theater these days – well, just look a the news items on this site. I wish you luck though!

PhilRoxy
PhilRoxy on August 25, 2009 at 5:10 am

Check out the Alama Drafthouses as well for a chain that seems do be doing pretty well – www.drafthouse.com

From experience of doing similar in London (www.roxybarandscreen.com), I’d suggest suggest focussing a lot of effort on getting the dinner side of things right – people who have proper restaurant management experienice with an interest in cinema are going to be a lot more useful than cinema people who’ve done a bit of restaurant work.

RayKaufman
RayKaufman on August 25, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Update your profile with an email address and you’ll likely receive more responses than what could be found here, in a public forum. Truth is, a lot depends upon your market and your abilities/experience, which then goes to what you might be able to do. CW makes valid points as does PhilRoxy. In short, it could be very exciting and rewarding or just the opposite.

Pano1974
Pano1974 on October 28, 2009 at 7:16 pm

How is your search going?

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