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Short-lived Abacoa 16 in Jupiter to be demolished
posted by
CSWalczak
on
February 12, 2010 at 7:50 am
JUPITER, FL — Opened in 2001 and closed in 2006, the Abacoa 16, last operated by Crown Theaters, is to be demolished. The master plan for the area designates that the location that the theater currently occupies be used for a theater, and citizens still would like to see one there, but currently there are no plans for a replacement.
A demolition permit has been issued to Oakland Park-based Miami Wrecking Co. to knock down the theater with yellow walls and big glass doors. Technicians are shutting off the water, sewer and electricity. Demolition will begin after Jupiter building department officials make sure all utilities are properly shut off.
Since closing in January 2006, rumors have circulated that Florida Atlantic University, the Scripps Research Institute, LA Fitness, a bowling alley, Target and the Jehovah’s Witnesses were interested in renting the tall-ceilinged building. The theater — three times the size of the Carefree Theater in West Palm Beach — had 16 screens and 3,733 seats.
The whole article is in the Pam Beach Post.
Comments (11)
A lost opportunity.
I visited this theater many times, including Jackson’s “King Kong” on the Odyssey screen a few weeks before it shuttered. By that time, the projection was so poor they were giving away passes as people left the theater.
Given the dearth of IMAX in this area (there is a “LIEMAX” at the Muvico City Place in West Palm), one would think an exhibitor would want this location to retrofit the Odyssey screen.
IF they were to build a new theater in Abacoa, one would hope a quality exhibitor like Landmark would come in and build something different… the surrounding theater, in particular the poorly managed Cobb Jupiter 18, leave little in the way of desirable moviegoing.
I just poked around on Google Streetview and it looks like an awful location, it’s sort of in the middle of nowhere, a few blocks from shopping and restaurant districts but the only parking it looks like it has is on the street – there’s a field across the street. I might be wrong but from my virtual visit, it’s no wonder this location was a lost money. A smaller theater with a better location might do alright.
Was this theatre in the houses with porches community called Abacoa?
And how does one access Google Streetview?
Does this theatre have a marquee? I am looking for one.
Patsy: to access Google Streetview, first get the Google map of the address you are searching for. When the map comes up, look to the left of the map. If Streetview is available for the address in question, it will appear in the list when you click on “More…” (Streetview is not always available). Click on Streetview.
This will change the map image to a picture of what Google says is at the address. However, what appears may not be exactly what is being sought. You may have to use both the pointer icon at the top left to move within the picture as well as the arrows on the line that will will appear in the picture along the street.
In the case of this theater’s address, you have to move to see more at the left of the photo because the theater is a the left end of the building that first appears when you hit Streetview. You will need to click on the arrow on the street line more than once to bring the theater image into view. Unless you have a very fast computer and a high speed connection, this can be a slow process.
Eric: no marquee; the building is on a corner location of what looks to me as a one of those “lifestyle centers.” It has a kind of towered entry over arches, with just the theater name and signage referring to its Odyssey screen.
What a waste—to demolish a 16 screen multiplex that’s less than 10 years old.
Of course here in Pittsburgh, we have the Loews 20 North Versailles which opened in 1999 and closed in 2001.
I personally liked the old single screen theatre. I think once you have more than a triple or quad.You lose the THEATRE experience.Anyone from the business in the 70’s to early 80’s; like I was will back me 100%.
Yes we will.
Thanks TLSLOEWS we all aren’t under 25.