Interesting note in the StarTribune today regarding AMC selling the space to the mall itself:
“Theaters Mall of America, the former AMC property being refurbished by the mall owners, is following suit. The multiplex is adding two 3-D digital projection systems, larger and plusher seats, food and full bar service, and real butter on its popcorn.
There will even be a 21-and-older VIP auditorium, with uniformed servers taking food and drink orders and delivering them on plastic trays half an hour before the feature begins. The theater will add a $2 ticket surcharge for that 170-seat hall. The mall will relaunch the facility with a grand reopening party on Friday."
Finally posted some pics I took on the night the place closed. Unfortunately they shut everything down early and had already turned off the famous lights before I got there, but oh well…
Screens won’t go dark despite new competition
AMC Theatres' 14-screen complex at Rosedale Center is supposed to start showing movies by mid-December, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “The End'‘ for the company’s 11-screen complex at Har Mar Mall.
"At this point in time, AMC Har Mar 3 and AMC Har Mar 8 will not be closing,’‘ company spokeswoman Melanie Bell said in an e-mail.
That’s despite Rosedale and Har-Mar shopping centers being within a mile and a half of each other.
Meanwhile, the Pioneer Press was unable to reach a spokesman at Regal Entertainment Group for comment on what the arrival of Rosedale’s AMC movie complex might mean for United Artists Pavilion Place 7, which is across the street from Rosedale Center.
Despite AMC’s plans to keep both complexes, some retail experts expect consolidation within the next two years.
"Eventually, we will see fewer theaters,’‘ predicted Dave Brennan, co-director of the Institute for Retailing Excellence at the University of St. Thomas. View link
I’m surprised to see the ‘generic’ and ‘no frills’ opinions of the place. Admittedly not unique like the Lagoon or Uptown, I remember Centennial being described by many as the nicest megaplex in the Twin Cities until the Mall of America opened. Of course both were soon made obselete by the stadium seating construction binge of the late 90s. But for a while it was THE place to go.
The picture in your link isn’t the marquee, just one of the two box offices. The big marquee stretches across the top of that end of the mall and can be seen from anywhere in the amusement park. All neon lines and stars and the (now) AMC logo. True it still doesn’t list movies now showing.
Small trivia item about the marquee…The two stars that blink in the middle were used to line up one of the hanging Lego spaceships below, as if the spaceship is shooting the stars.
Rumor had it the first few years it was open it was the most profitable site GCC had nationwide, and managers made more money on concessions commission alone than their previous base pay running other sites in town.
No idea how it stacks up now. I have to imagine the lack of stadium seating hurts it. It’s been years since I saw them running either of the hallway satelite concession stands.
The PioneerPress today had a story about the 1981 tornado and mentioned the theater closing soon. I worked there in the early 90’s and will need to make a goodbye visit. Anyone know how soon the closing is? Thanks.
Interesting note in the StarTribune today regarding AMC selling the space to the mall itself:
“Theaters Mall of America, the former AMC property being refurbished by the mall owners, is following suit. The multiplex is adding two 3-D digital projection systems, larger and plusher seats, food and full bar service, and real butter on its popcorn.
There will even be a 21-and-older VIP auditorium, with uniformed servers taking food and drink orders and delivering them on plastic trays half an hour before the feature begins. The theater will add a $2 ticket surcharge for that 170-seat hall. The mall will relaunch the facility with a grand reopening party on Friday."
http://tinyurl.com/MOA-AMC
Finally posted some pics I took on the night the place closed. Unfortunately they shut everything down early and had already turned off the famous lights before I got there, but oh well…
View link
Screens won’t go dark despite new competition
AMC Theatres' 14-screen complex at Rosedale Center is supposed to start showing movies by mid-December, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “The End'‘ for the company’s 11-screen complex at Har Mar Mall.
"At this point in time, AMC Har Mar 3 and AMC Har Mar 8 will not be closing,’‘ company spokeswoman Melanie Bell said in an e-mail.
That’s despite Rosedale and Har-Mar shopping centers being within a mile and a half of each other.
Meanwhile, the Pioneer Press was unable to reach a spokesman at Regal Entertainment Group for comment on what the arrival of Rosedale’s AMC movie complex might mean for United Artists Pavilion Place 7, which is across the street from Rosedale Center.
Despite AMC’s plans to keep both complexes, some retail experts expect consolidation within the next two years.
"Eventually, we will see fewer theaters,’‘ predicted Dave Brennan, co-director of the Institute for Retailing Excellence at the University of St. Thomas.
View link
I’m surprised to see the ‘generic’ and ‘no frills’ opinions of the place. Admittedly not unique like the Lagoon or Uptown, I remember Centennial being described by many as the nicest megaplex in the Twin Cities until the Mall of America opened. Of course both were soon made obselete by the stadium seating construction binge of the late 90s. But for a while it was THE place to go.
The picture in your link isn’t the marquee, just one of the two box offices. The big marquee stretches across the top of that end of the mall and can be seen from anywhere in the amusement park. All neon lines and stars and the (now) AMC logo. True it still doesn’t list movies now showing.
Small trivia item about the marquee…The two stars that blink in the middle were used to line up one of the hanging Lego spaceships below, as if the spaceship is shooting the stars.
Rumor had it the first few years it was open it was the most profitable site GCC had nationwide, and managers made more money on concessions commission alone than their previous base pay running other sites in town.
No idea how it stacks up now. I have to imagine the lack of stadium seating hurts it. It’s been years since I saw them running either of the hallway satelite concession stands.
The PioneerPress today had a story about the 1981 tornado and mentioned the theater closing soon. I worked there in the early 90’s and will need to make a goodbye visit. Anyone know how soon the closing is? Thanks.