AMC Covina 30
1414 N. Azusa Avenue,
Covina,
CA
91722
1414 N. Azusa Avenue,
Covina,
CA
91722
5 people
favorited this theater
The AMC Covina 30 Opened on Friday Feb 13th, 1998 and was immediately billed as the biggest theatre in the San Gabriel Valley. It opened in the Covina Town Square at the corner Of Azusa Avenue (CA SR 39) and Arrow Highway.
The theatre’s construction was plagued with a large delay when the construction crew tearing down the Sears Department Store’s basement hit a pipe with methane gas. One worker was killed, halting construction.
The AMC Covina was not an immediate success. Faltering attendance plagued the theatre for the first years, and it was not until two summers later that it became the busy theatre it was meant to be.
This theatre did cause the closure of the So Cal Chain’s Eastland 5, and Fox 3 (which for a time became an Indian film house) plus the Edwards Foothill 10 (now a Regency Theatre) and Mann Glendora 6.
This theatre has 13 theatres on the north side, and 13 of on the south wing. All ranged in size from 75 seats to 250 seats. The four large theatres were located in the middle with the main concession stand, two auditoriums with 475 seats, two with 375. It also has a nice upper mezzanie that looks down on the lobby doors. It is also in the same stying as many AMC megaplexes built around the same time.
Soundwise, all 30 feature SDDS. Theatres 15,16, and 23 had DTS Readers, and theatre 16 was the only one with Dolby Digital, which was upgraded to DD-EX when “Phantom Menace” opened.
Contributed by
Jeff Arellano
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
I worked at this theater. There was a huge crew making it all work, concession sales, ticket takers, custodians, and on and on. We all had a blast and felt lucky to be working in such a big, great place. Management was great. I finally quit because I wanted to let my hair grow out and they had an almost military dress code. It was fun. I remember watching movies and being completely “up” on the films that were out at the time.
ezfave, when did you work at this theatre? I was working there for about 2 years, from 1998-2000. I put a lot into the theatre and still have a picture of the Opening day staff.
i work there now. projectionist. easy job. robertas still there and vicky ramirez is my booth manager. both have been there since opening day.
This megaplex was designed by STK Architects.
Due to declining business, AMC has apparently closed one wing of the the theater and currently running it as a 17 plex. No plans on what they plan to do with the closed wing. This theater has suffered attendance decline since AMC opened their Glendora 12 a few miles away.
Also, as of September 2011, businesses are leaving the center like rats from a sinking ship. PetSmart and Michaels both relocated to West Covina. The only “new” business is Lowe’s replaced Home Depot with the last year.
I remember going to the Sears with my parents when I was young, back before all the Sears and JCPenny’s attached themselves to malls. I can still smell the popcorn and rubber. They had a popcorn/candy counter in the Sears near the tires and Craftsmen tools department.
I Saw my first movie here
Hey that’s great. Proud of you.
However, what movie was it? How was the experience? What did you think of the venue?