One of Toronto’s Cineplex locations is closing its doors next week.
In a statement, Cineplex confirmed to CTV News Toronto that its location in the Beaches neighbourhood, at 1651 Queen Street East near Coxwell Avenue, will host a final day of screenings on Feb. 17.
“We can confirm our Cineplex Cinemas Beaches location will be closing as the landlord has chosen to lease the space to another business,” the statement said. “We have loved being members of this wonderful neighbourhood for the past 20 years.”
The statement thanked the Beaches community for their support and said Cineplex looks forward to welcoming them at their four other locations in the downtown Toronto area.
A sign posted on the door of the theatre says guests coming to watch a movie between Feb. 10 and 17 will receive a free popcorn with the purchase of a ticket.
Cineplex’s Beaches theatre had six screens and a party room for kids.
BIA ‘optimistic’ for what comes next in space
Speaking with CP24 on Monday evening, Dr. Johanna Carlo, the vice-chair of the Beach Business Improvement Area (BIA), said the local movie theatre was well-loved in the community and will be missed.
“Cineplex was a real part of people’s routines here, from date nights to kids’ birthday parties. So there’s a real emotional piece to this community that we’re going to notice, and then, as well as, just hopefully just the short-term economic disruptions to that section of the block,” she told CP24’s Bakari Savage.
“You know when we embrace our community and we embrace our local businesses, and especially embracing that third-space vibe, I know that Beachers do love that sense of nostalgia. We love the businesses who choose to set up shop here.”
Carlo said she anticipates many area residents will visit the theatre over the weekend before it closes for good.
The closure of the movie theatre, she noted doesn’t appear to be related to the business failing, nor the community not embracing it.
“This seems to me to be a landlord’s decision to lease the space to a new tenant and we respect that,” she said.
Despite being a large corporate tenant, Carlo said Cineplex “found a way to integrate into the commercial strip and ... live among small businesses,” adding it was an integral part of the local walkable commercial strip, which also includes coffee shops and restaurants.
“We always felt their presence but we never felt overwhelmed by them. And somehow there was this nice community feeling of (the Cineplex),” Carlo said, adding the BIA is “optimistic” for what comes next in that space.
“They were reliable and they’re always there, and all the new screenings. It was just always a reliable place to go for us and we really are grateful that they chose The Beach.”
