As far as I know, RMS still owns the mall, which is one of the reasons why it still isn’t doing well. I haven’t stepped into that mall in over a half a year, but according to the online mall directory, they haven’t had any success in bringing stores to the west wing, even with DICKS and Wal-Mart.
I work for AMC at Ridge Park Square and I haven’t heard anything about a new Westgate Theatre (although that’s not to say that what you heard isn’t true).
Amazing stories! That harassment continued through the end. Also it didn’t help that the General Cinema staff including the management team all returned to operate Cinema Grill and then Cleveland Cinemas. That’s a wonderful how GCC was able to maintain their space and funny how today the mall can’t seem to get any store to fill that wing of the mall.
Was that ugly “wood” decor always part of the exterior box office/poster case wall? Or was that added in one of the GCC renovations? Shortly before GCC closed us, they wanted to find money to redo our box office — to make it more secure. Also, it’s also fun to point out that within a year of granting us $22,000 to put in new carpeting for the lobby, General Cinema closed us.
Tell me about those “rolling grill” openings. What exactly were those about? Through the late 90’s we filled those spaces with arcade games. Then Cinema Grill turned that area into self-serve soda fountain stations. Then Cleveland Cinemas just used it for display space.
Dave, do you have any more pictures from the original General Cinema Parmatown from the 70’s? I have tons from 1997-2004. When we first closed in 2001, unfortunately nobody took the framed Cleveland Plain Dealer article announcing the grand opening in 1967. When the staff returned in Spring of 2002, it disappeared during the remodeling.
Westgate Cinema will close on January 16, 2006 with the city’s effort to revitalize the land. It’s a shame because the theatre itself is still quite popular and profitable.
I worked at Parmatown Cinema through all three closings — General Cinema in 2001, Cinema Grill in 2002, and Cleveland Cinemas in 2004. I managed there from 2002-2004, but was on the floorstaff since 1997. I’m fairly sure after Kowallek, Kim Brazina former GM of GCC Randall Park, was the next to take over. She was my boss and operated it until just prior to the final close in 2004. Her husband still operates AMC Westwood and the soon to be closed AMC Westgate.
Although I have moved on to AMC Ridge Park Square, my heart remains with the years that I spent at the old GCC Parmatown (1997-2001). After the Cinema Grill renovations, the place never had the heart it once had — both within the structure itself and with the staff.
BTW, the Cinema Grill failed because the owners of the company (Entertainment Film Works) were crooked and never paid their lease. Eventually the mall evicted them. This was a constant with EFW when they took over Hickory Ridge in Brunswick, Midway Theatre in Elyria, and Canton Center in Canton. Also, upon doing research they stuck with their routine all over the country and the last that I heard the IRS was after them and that they were operating under different names. EFW promised a lot when renovating PT, that they never made true on. Construction took almost 8 months because they weren’t paying the crew. Further, the auditoriums were never remodeled with that transition, which would have helped revive the theatre.
Parmatown Mall was responsible for the final closing of Cleveland Cinemas Parmatown in 2004, in order to acquire DICKS sport goods store. The mall management, who the theatre constantly had disputes with over the last 10 years, wanted a tenant that would pay a lease, since the mall owned the theatre and Cleveland Cinemas merely was in charge of operating it. Plans were in effect by the mall to build an 8-screen theatre across from the former one next to Wal-mart, but the last that I heard they were not able to acquire a company that was willing to build and manage it. Consequently, with word of the new Southland theatre (that was supposed to be built and opened last year by Cleveland Cinemas)and the new Cinemark SouthPark Mall location, it is doubtful that Parmatown will ever see a theatre again.
As far as I know, RMS still owns the mall, which is one of the reasons why it still isn’t doing well. I haven’t stepped into that mall in over a half a year, but according to the online mall directory, they haven’t had any success in bringing stores to the west wing, even with DICKS and Wal-Mart.
I work for AMC at Ridge Park Square and I haven’t heard anything about a new Westgate Theatre (although that’s not to say that what you heard isn’t true).
Amazing stories! That harassment continued through the end. Also it didn’t help that the General Cinema staff including the management team all returned to operate Cinema Grill and then Cleveland Cinemas. That’s a wonderful how GCC was able to maintain their space and funny how today the mall can’t seem to get any store to fill that wing of the mall.
Was that ugly “wood” decor always part of the exterior box office/poster case wall? Or was that added in one of the GCC renovations? Shortly before GCC closed us, they wanted to find money to redo our box office — to make it more secure. Also, it’s also fun to point out that within a year of granting us $22,000 to put in new carpeting for the lobby, General Cinema closed us.
Tell me about those “rolling grill” openings. What exactly were those about? Through the late 90’s we filled those spaces with arcade games. Then Cinema Grill turned that area into self-serve soda fountain stations. Then Cleveland Cinemas just used it for display space.
Dave, do you have any more pictures from the original General Cinema Parmatown from the 70’s? I have tons from 1997-2004. When we first closed in 2001, unfortunately nobody took the framed Cleveland Plain Dealer article announcing the grand opening in 1967. When the staff returned in Spring of 2002, it disappeared during the remodeling.
Heard a rumor that Parmatown Mall was also open-aired until roofed. Is this true? If so, was the theatre there before or after the “roofing?”
Westgate Cinema will close on January 16, 2006 with the city’s effort to revitalize the land. It’s a shame because the theatre itself is still quite popular and profitable.
I worked at Parmatown Cinema through all three closings — General Cinema in 2001, Cinema Grill in 2002, and Cleveland Cinemas in 2004. I managed there from 2002-2004, but was on the floorstaff since 1997. I’m fairly sure after Kowallek, Kim Brazina former GM of GCC Randall Park, was the next to take over. She was my boss and operated it until just prior to the final close in 2004. Her husband still operates AMC Westwood and the soon to be closed AMC Westgate.
Although I have moved on to AMC Ridge Park Square, my heart remains with the years that I spent at the old GCC Parmatown (1997-2001). After the Cinema Grill renovations, the place never had the heart it once had — both within the structure itself and with the staff.
BTW, the Cinema Grill failed because the owners of the company (Entertainment Film Works) were crooked and never paid their lease. Eventually the mall evicted them. This was a constant with EFW when they took over Hickory Ridge in Brunswick, Midway Theatre in Elyria, and Canton Center in Canton. Also, upon doing research they stuck with their routine all over the country and the last that I heard the IRS was after them and that they were operating under different names. EFW promised a lot when renovating PT, that they never made true on. Construction took almost 8 months because they weren’t paying the crew. Further, the auditoriums were never remodeled with that transition, which would have helped revive the theatre.
Parmatown Mall was responsible for the final closing of Cleveland Cinemas Parmatown in 2004, in order to acquire DICKS sport goods store. The mall management, who the theatre constantly had disputes with over the last 10 years, wanted a tenant that would pay a lease, since the mall owned the theatre and Cleveland Cinemas merely was in charge of operating it. Plans were in effect by the mall to build an 8-screen theatre across from the former one next to Wal-mart, but the last that I heard they were not able to acquire a company that was willing to build and manage it. Consequently, with word of the new Southland theatre (that was supposed to be built and opened last year by Cleveland Cinemas)and the new Cinemark SouthPark Mall location, it is doubtful that Parmatown will ever see a theatre again.