Coral Gables, FL - Luxury movie theater opening soon at Merrick Park but is it needed?

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on September 29, 2016 at 8:40 am

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From Curbed Miami: The Landmark at Merrick Park, a 25,000-square-foot luxury movie theater, will open at the Shops at Merrick Park in December, the chain announced today, according to the Miami Herald.

It will be on the third floor next to Neiman Marcus, with leather chairs, stadium seating, laser projection, a full bar and lounge, and, most importantly, online reserved seating.

The Landmark project was approved by the Coral Gables City Commission after agreeing not to compete with the Coral Gables Art Cinema for movies. Both theaters are located on city-owned land and will be able to show the same films. Landmark will also make a $10,000 donation to the non-profit Gables Cinema for five years, starting in December. In today’s world of excellent home-viewing options on massive and affordable televisions the question is whether this fills a need with several options already in the area and a couple more in the pipeline.

There’s AMC Sunset Place about three miles to the south and a Cinépolis just over a mile away in Coconut Grove.

And they likely won’t draw folks form the heart of Miami, as there is a theater coming to Brickell City Centre and another opening just over the bridge.

Story link: http://miami.curbed.com/2016/9/7/12835936/luxury-movie-theater-opening-soon-at-merrick-park

ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org

Comments (2)

optimist008
optimist008 on September 29, 2016 at 11:27 am

Because of the retail store downturn, shopping center owners are courting alternative uses such as entertainment and restaurant tenants. This has been widely written about in the Wall St Journal, so theater chains now have an advantage when negotiating leases. Anchor stores are now passé….

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on September 29, 2016 at 10:16 pm

“After agreeing not to compete with the Coral Gables Art Cinema for movies. Both theaters are located on city-owned land and will be able to show the same films”. So how, EXACTLY, do you not compete when you are playing the SAME films?

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