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NuWilshire to close next week
posted by
Michael Zoldessy
on
November 2, 2007 at 7:53 am
SANTA MONICA, CA — The NuWilshire Theatre, rumored to be closing for months, looks like it finally shut its doors next Thursday. Supposedly, it is not Landmark, its operator, that wants to do this but its owner, who plans to convert the site to retail.
Another theater is going dark. Landmark is leaving the NuWilshire in Santa Monica, though it seems the chain wanted to stay but was kicked out by an owner intent on developing the site.
Read more at L.A. Observed.
Comments (20)
The theater page may not be accurate, but somebody stated that Landmark’s lease had a few more years to run. IF that’s the case, then it sounds like a mutual decision with Landmark happy to depart.
What a shame.
Yeah, I work there and it is a shame, especially since it’s such a classical and historic place. It will be missed greatly! Sunday is the last day of opperation, and I will be concession over there. I’m going to miss this place greatly! And before the staff was aware of the closing, it was stated that the lease of the building was going to be up in four years. Unfortunetly, the owner wanted us out sooner.
Ok, but a lease means the tenant had a right to stay for 4 years. A tenant who wants to stay because it is making money doesn’t think “oh, better go, landlord doesn’t want me anymore” or “I will make the landlord happy & leave” Right?
He knew our lease was going to go up in four years, but he didn’t want to wait that long. So, he’s been going out of his way to find a buyer. He finally convinced someone and now it’s sold.
And apparently Landmark didn’t fight to keep it, or try to persuade the guy not to sell it. But to be honest, I think it might be because one of the managers at my theatre wanted to know an exact date of closing and that’s why we are moving out so soon, while the stores (attatched to the theatre) next door get to stay 45 more days.
I’m guessing the lease doesn’t say “If, I, the landlord, wish to sell the property, the lease is over” just as it doesn’t say “I, the tenant, have the right to transfer the lease to any other tenant without asking permission of the landlord”
In other words, Landmark was equally happy to walk away.
By the way, thanks for all the appreciation you have for this Art Deco gem & for photographing it.
No problem, more pictures will be taken in the future. *I can’t believe my friends want me to work at the new jean store…you have got to be kidding me…
I worked at the Cove Theatre, also run by Landmark, until its closing in January 2003. We were given 3 months notice, but unlike your theatre we were on a month to month lease. I feel for those, like you, who get such short notice and especially others who I have known that did not know their theatre was closing until they went to work and there were padlocks on the doors…
Thanks so much for understanding monika, I really appreciate it.
There’s a public hearing Nov 12th to discuss designating the theater as a City Landmark. It will be at 7 p.m., at City Council Chambers, City Hall, Room 213, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica.
There’s no point now. The theatre is closing on the 4th and development for the new store will commence as early as Friday. However it’s nice to know that a public hearing will be made. If only it was sooner, then maybe we would all still have our jobs.
Last day of work!!! :(
Sorry to hear this. It’s always possible that the lease provided for cancellation if the property is sold or that there was some kind of buyout. Unless someone knows for certain, it’s all speculation.
Nushboy, I don’t think the hearing has anything to do with saving the business (unfortunately); it seems to be about saving the building.
I’ll be at the last show of “Sharkwater” tonight to say goodbye. I’ve lived around the corner from the NuWilshire for almost 14 years now. I hate to see it go.
Will they keep the old marquee and neon as part of the new store? Landmark was glad to get out of the lease early. You can go to the new multi box Landmark 12 and see what was at the NuWilshire. Landmark saves money and staff. We lost another theatre like in Pasadena. Landmark will soon get out of the single screen business and go multi screen with little small screens. Why bother to go to them. You can now have a bigger screen in your home with better digital sound. Anyone that lives up in SF CA that has been to the Landmark Opera Plaza and Luminere Theatres can tell you about the bad sound and tiny screens. When the lease runs out in SF they will do the same as at the NuWilshire.
On closing night, I heard someone say that they were going to remove the marquee, but I have no idea how reliable that person was. I might attend the Nov 12 public hearing to get a better idea of what they’re planning for the property.
As for the Landmark 12, I saw Blade Runner there. It was a black box theater. Good projection and sound, with a good-sized screen, but the space is boring. I’ll probably only go there if they get something that I can’t see anywhere else (like BR).
I went by the Landmark 12 to drop off equipment from the NuWilshire yesterday, and to be honest, the entire place felt like a damn airport. So much for the independent feel of our place.
I doubt they are going to keep the marque at all. They have already taken out all of the seats in the theatres and we just uninstalled the sound systems and equipment.
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