Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk
5095 Yonge Street,
Toronto,
ON
M2N 6Y7
5095 Yonge Street,
Toronto,
ON
M2N 6Y7
2 people
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This theatre opened with Princess Mononoke, The Insider, Double Jeopardy, Three Kings, Three to Tango and Pokemon: The First Movie.
Added several photos from two separate visits in 2018 and 2019. I was mighty impressed with this visit which was clean throughout, had great projection and sound on the movies I attended (save for the automated house lights BLASTING on at the end credits) and was nice and open. Great views of the street from the wide, expansive lobby area.
I only wish Cineplex would update the seating as it is still the original 1999 Famous Players seats which are showing a LOT of wear and tear but otherwise a very nice cinema.
The letters on the vertical Cineplex sign outside were mysteriously removed. Is it possible that Cineplex would renovate this theatre further?
November 12th, 1999 grand opening ad in photo section.
Interesting indeed David, interesting indeed.
RECAP — Famous Players built this theatre against the advice of their own internal advisors in the booking department. Never really did as well as Famous Players wanted it to. When Cineplex Odeon took over Famous Players the government wanted them to get rid of some sitituations. Cineplex Odeon was only too happy to allow Empire Theatres to operate this theatre. When Empire Theatres didn’t do the numbers that they wanted, they abandoned Empress Walk. Cineplex Odeon took this back again likely just to keep another company from entering the Toronto market. Interesting case study of a modern megaplex theatre!!
RECAP — Famous Players built this theatre against the advice of their own internal advisors in the booking department. Never really did as well as Famous Players wanted it to. When Cineplex Odeon took over Famous Players the government wanted them to get rid of some sitituations. Cineplex Odeon was only too happy to allow Empire Theatres to operate this theatre. When Empire Theatres didn’t do the numbers that they wanted, they abandoned Empress Walk. Cineplex Odeon took this back again likely just to keep another company from entering the Toronto market. Interesting case study of a modern megaplex theatre!!
No actually if you look on Cineplex.com, it’s called Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, just as the new name of the former Colisseum Mississauga is Cineplex Cinemas Mississauga. Must be a new “brand” for them.
I don’t think it’s Cineplex Cinemas… just Cineplex.
Great! but it’s new name is Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk.
This theatre reopens tomorrow as Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, so status and name need to be changed on here.
It’s official, from today’s Toronto Star, Cineplex taking over this site. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/04/25/cineplex_pulls_theatre_switcheroo_at_yonge_and_sheppard.html
I heard recently that someone was in Empress Walk and there signs there saying that Cineplex is coming in June, so I guess Cineplex really IS moving up the street from Sheppard Centre. I guess it will get the business now since it will be the only cinema in the area. Unless of course Empire moves in to Sheppard Centre LOL
Within a few months of this place opening, we could see by the figures that this place just wasn’t going to make it. When they consider building theatres they do projections but if the projections are enhanced just to get the “go ahead” answer then failure later must be dealt with!!
Any idea David why this one didn’t work out, yet the former Grande down the street seems to do well? They usually showed different types of films with this one getting more of the “blockbuster” type and the Cineplex getting more of the artsy type. With the Hullmark Centre, the Emerald towers and the Gibson towers all opening within the next few years, you would think that the “downtown” of the former North York could handle 20 screens in the neighbourhood. And coming soon too are all the giant towers at City Park Place along Sheppard. Quite interesting.
Yes, Thorncliffe only lasted a few years. There was a theatre built in Forest Hill for the elite, called the Village Theatre and the candy bar business was operated on the honour system — and when the inventory was done it always came out OVER!!!! As to THE CINEMA AT THE TD Centre even the name was snobby and elitist and Famous Players spent a fortune on the lobby chairs, etc. Mr. Reuben Bolstad was President of Famous Players when the TD Cinema opened!
I remember both of those locations David. Didn’t the Thorncliffe only last a couple of years? I loved The Cinema, saw a few big ones there, but you’re right, seemed like it was definitely in the wrong location at the time. When it opened back in 1967, I remember reading that Famous Players opened it to replace the Tivoli on Richmond St. But that was much closer to Yonge St and all the shopping, restaurants etc…
Another story I’ve read says that the Empress Walk is indeed closing down, but the Cineplex at Sheppard Centre is also closing for exciting renovations. Haven’t read anything about this on the Cineplex web site and there have been no announcements under “press releases” so don’t know what’s going on with either location.
I don’t believe Cineplex would want this location. This location under-performed from day one and Famous Players was never happy with the results. When the decision was made to build there, it was a classic situation of the left hand not working with the right hand. Over its 80 year history, Famous Players Canadian Corporation did have a few failures (or theatres that underperformed). Thorncliffe Park Mall Cinemas couldn’t work under Famous Players, Twinex or Premier (Famous Players affiliates). The Cinema in the Toronto Dominion Centre failed because people wouldn’t go back there at night after working all day downtown — and there were a few others — but very few!!
Latest rumour I’ve heard about this place is that Cineplex is moving up the street from Sheppard Centre to this location. If true, wonder why they’d leave Sheppard Centre. I actually prefer Sheppard Centre to this one, seems classier, sort of like an uptown version of their Varsity cinemas.
Unbelievable, would never have thought that, especially in that neighbourhood.
This theatre was a failure from the day it opened. This theatre should never have been located there. Famous Players were just so anxious to build locations that it got the best of them.
Can’t believe this one is closing. Especially with the hundreds of condos currently and coming soon to the neighbourhood. Too bad, one of the nicer multiplexes around town. 10 screens at nearby Sheppard Centre doesn’t seem enough for the former “downtown” North York.
Empire is closing this theatre. The last day of operation is March 21st. Quite a turn of events, considering they only installed a retrofitted IMAX screen less than a year ago!