Thanks for the shot. It’s been about a year since I’ve been in the mall.
Thanks for that update on the chronology kengcc. I didn’t start frequenting the place until the 80’s. I’d agree, there was a stretch there where this was a really good place to see a movie.
The McDonald’s has actually been there at least since the 90’s, when the theater was still open. Easy to mistake given the marquis inside the McDonald’s, but that was just part of the design they gave it. Had a few meals over there before movies in that neat 50’s styles place.
Essentially the Target used to be a mall, with a number of stores in it, including an Arcade, Rite Aid, Walden (or B. Dalton can’t quite remember), florist, shoe store, Dress Barn, a couple or restaurants among a few other things. Skyline 1-6 was towards the side the McDonald’s is on, and 7-12 was on the opposite end. The McDonald’s was disconnected from the rest of the mall, via that long hallway, just as it is disconnected from Target now. There was a little breakfast/lunch shop over in that hall space with McD’s as well as a bank. Not sure if they are both still there are not, but they did outlast the rest of the mall. The health club/gym, which is upstairs, also remains from the Skyline Mall days. It used to be accessible via an elevator in the middle of the mall. Anyway, it’s cool that they’ve kept the McDonald’s around. It’s a nice looking one.
Yeah, the crime in that area is a problem, especially directly south. That said, crime there was pretty bad in the late 1990’s, and the place was doing very well then. I would often go there because I wanted to avoid heading into Springfield Mall, which was closer to me, and the place was packed every Friday and Saturday night. I don’t know, I just saw an immediate hit when the Hoffman Center opened and people just seemed to make a habit of avoiding the place after that. Perhaps the shady area led some people who live back towards Mt. Vernon/Ft. Hunt etc. to just trek to Eisenhower Ave. instead when that option opened up. However, one would think with the Walmart that is pretty much always packed being basically in the same parking lot (save for a fence), and the revamped Mt. Vernon Crossroads a couple of blocks away, always packed, the area still generates more than enough traffic, crime or not, to support a multiplex under the right circumstances.
Ah, I see, I thought you were talking about the theater name. You could be right with the street address. All I know is it was 5105. I was assuming Bradlick but it certainly could be Backlick checking on google maps.
Nope, this isn’t listed under anything else. I added the listing because it wasn’t on the site though, from JodarMovieFans comments, it was at some point before. From what some others have said, several theaters that used to be listed on here disappeared at some point (in transfer from another server or something of the like?) awhile back.
Hoiles
commented about
Cinema 7on
Oct 21, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Really was a great place to see a movie. One of the places I really miss. I had wished Cineplex Odeon would have swooped this up when KB folded, as they did with a few other KB spots, but with their own Shirlington nearby, and the AMC across the street, they probably saw it as a money loser. Oh well. It probably would have only delayed things but still a shame.
So does anybody know what is going to happen to this place? I didn’t hear anything about it closing until it just happened out of the blue. The attendance obviously suffered from Hoffman Center and Kingstowne opening, so I’m sure that played a role. That said, a lot of money has gone in to revitalizing that area, so I’d expect a multiplex to end up somewhere around there if this one doesn’t change ownership. Just wondering if anybody has any insight?
I forgot about that 7-12 side coming later. It was a little more made-up, though the theaters were a bit smaller on that end.
Saw a ton of movies here. The sound tended to bleed through the walls on the blockbusters on the 1-6 side, but otherwise, it was a pretty nice (and cheap, even for the times) place to catch a movie for a mall spot.
Yeah, seems like such a waste to have this place bite the dust. A great looking theater, 7 is a decent number of screens, and it is a perfect neighborhood for the product they show. Hope this doesn’t just turn in to more condos.
Cinema Arts in Fairfax does compete with Shirlington in trying to book a lot of the same indie product and does do good business from what I understand. It’s independently owned, so I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon, so there’ll still be a location that side of DC showing arthouse stuff. Still, hope somebody comes in and saves this place.
Wow, really? I thought this location still did bring in good business with its arthouse selection, though I imagine the rent may be high given the spot. I’d hate to see this place not reamin a theater.
Most of the 2007 Filmfest DC screenings in late April are being held at this location. Haven’t heard anything about its future though. Perhaps it is just sitting there until they can find a buyer who will keep it as a theater? I’m sure AMC wouldn’t have had trouble selling this space for some other purpose if they actually had the ability.
Thanks for the shot. It’s been about a year since I’ve been in the mall.
Thanks for that update on the chronology kengcc. I didn’t start frequenting the place until the 80’s. I’d agree, there was a stretch there where this was a really good place to see a movie.
The McDonald’s has actually been there at least since the 90’s, when the theater was still open. Easy to mistake given the marquis inside the McDonald’s, but that was just part of the design they gave it. Had a few meals over there before movies in that neat 50’s styles place.
Essentially the Target used to be a mall, with a number of stores in it, including an Arcade, Rite Aid, Walden (or B. Dalton can’t quite remember), florist, shoe store, Dress Barn, a couple or restaurants among a few other things. Skyline 1-6 was towards the side the McDonald’s is on, and 7-12 was on the opposite end. The McDonald’s was disconnected from the rest of the mall, via that long hallway, just as it is disconnected from Target now. There was a little breakfast/lunch shop over in that hall space with McD’s as well as a bank. Not sure if they are both still there are not, but they did outlast the rest of the mall. The health club/gym, which is upstairs, also remains from the Skyline Mall days. It used to be accessible via an elevator in the middle of the mall. Anyway, it’s cool that they’ve kept the McDonald’s around. It’s a nice looking one.
Yeah, the crime in that area is a problem, especially directly south. That said, crime there was pretty bad in the late 1990’s, and the place was doing very well then. I would often go there because I wanted to avoid heading into Springfield Mall, which was closer to me, and the place was packed every Friday and Saturday night. I don’t know, I just saw an immediate hit when the Hoffman Center opened and people just seemed to make a habit of avoiding the place after that. Perhaps the shady area led some people who live back towards Mt. Vernon/Ft. Hunt etc. to just trek to Eisenhower Ave. instead when that option opened up. However, one would think with the Walmart that is pretty much always packed being basically in the same parking lot (save for a fence), and the revamped Mt. Vernon Crossroads a couple of blocks away, always packed, the area still generates more than enough traffic, crime or not, to support a multiplex under the right circumstances.
Ah, I see, I thought you were talking about the theater name. You could be right with the street address. All I know is it was 5105. I was assuming Bradlick but it certainly could be Backlick checking on google maps.
Bradlick is a small little road actually off of Backlick Road. It’s pretty much at the intersection of Braddock and Backlick. A bit confusing.
Nope, this isn’t listed under anything else. I added the listing because it wasn’t on the site though, from JodarMovieFans comments, it was at some point before. From what some others have said, several theaters that used to be listed on here disappeared at some point (in transfer from another server or something of the like?) awhile back.
Really was a great place to see a movie. One of the places I really miss. I had wished Cineplex Odeon would have swooped this up when KB folded, as they did with a few other KB spots, but with their own Shirlington nearby, and the AMC across the street, they probably saw it as a money loser. Oh well. It probably would have only delayed things but still a shame.
… and Cinema 1 is SDDS equipped.
The 660 seater, Cinema 1, is THX certified.
Anybody know if this place is still sitting there vacant? Last time I checked it was, and that had been around 2 years after it closed.
When the Old Town reopened after the renovations in June 07 a second screen was again in place.
So does anybody know what is going to happen to this place? I didn’t hear anything about it closing until it just happened out of the blue. The attendance obviously suffered from Hoffman Center and Kingstowne opening, so I’m sure that played a role. That said, a lot of money has gone in to revitalizing that area, so I’d expect a multiplex to end up somewhere around there if this one doesn’t change ownership. Just wondering if anybody has any insight?
Yeah, I miss that little mall too.
I forgot about that 7-12 side coming later. It was a little more made-up, though the theaters were a bit smaller on that end.
Saw a ton of movies here. The sound tended to bleed through the walls on the blockbusters on the 1-6 side, but otherwise, it was a pretty nice (and cheap, even for the times) place to catch a movie for a mall spot.
Yeah, seems like such a waste to have this place bite the dust. A great looking theater, 7 is a decent number of screens, and it is a perfect neighborhood for the product they show. Hope this doesn’t just turn in to more condos.
Cinema Arts in Fairfax does compete with Shirlington in trying to book a lot of the same indie product and does do good business from what I understand. It’s independently owned, so I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon, so there’ll still be a location that side of DC showing arthouse stuff. Still, hope somebody comes in and saves this place.
Wow, really? I thought this location still did bring in good business with its arthouse selection, though I imagine the rent may be high given the spot. I’d hate to see this place not reamin a theater.
Opened again June 28th.
Most of the 2007 Filmfest DC screenings in late April are being held at this location. Haven’t heard anything about its future though. Perhaps it is just sitting there until they can find a buyer who will keep it as a theater? I’m sure AMC wouldn’t have had trouble selling this space for some other purpose if they actually had the ability.
According to the theater website they are looking for extra volunteer help but it is anticipated that it will reopen by early May.
Closed in early 2005.