Canada’s largest movie theatre chain has confirmed plans to close a long-standing neighbourhood location.
Cineplex, in a statement to The Star, confirmed plans to shut down operations at Cineplex Beaches at the end of business on Feb.17. Cineplex confirmed that it stems from the decision of the landlord to lease the space to another tenant.
“We can confirm our Cineplex Cinemas Beaches location will be closing as the landlord has chosen to lease the space to another business.”
While Cineplex failed to mention the new tenant, a search on the city’s building permits platform showed an application for a zoning review to “facilitate the conversion of the existing Alliance Cinema space to accommodate a new tenant, Altea, to operate a physical health and wellness facility.”
The company’s website, Altea Active, shows the organization describes itself as “Canada’s Leader in Fitness and Wellness – All Under One Roof, With One Membership,” with locations in Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg.
Cineplex thanked the Beaches community saying “We are grateful to the Beaches community for their support and look forward to welcoming familiar faces to our nearby Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP and Cineplex Odeon Eglinton Town Centre Cinemas locations.”
News of the closure first made it online following a tweet by film editor, Barry Hertz.
The venue, which includes six theatre rooms and a party room for kids, first opened its doors in 1999.
Last summer Cineplex had announced the closure and demolition of its Queensway location, to make way for a proposed condo development. A decision that gave rise to a large backlash from the community and a reaction from the company.
Community reaction
Grace Leeder, a freelance writer in Toronto, while reacting to the news tweeted, “Sad day. This is my closest theatre and a place I have visited nearly every week for the last seven years.” Another X user identified as Megg shared how the location was her first real job as a teen.
Marina Cordoni, a Toronto-based independent film producer, said the wave of cinema closures across North America is no surprise, given shifts in consumer behaviour.
But these closures have a negative impact on society, Cordoni said. “When (a theatre) closes, you lose a gathering place, spontaneous nights out, intergenerational experiences and part of the neighborhood’s cultural rhythm — dinner nearby, a walk home, running into people you know. … There are fewer spaces left where people connect around a shared experience, which subtly affects local vibrancy.”
