I believe this is cinema 5— it’s one of the new ones Cineplex added in 1998. It looks exactly as it did, they’ve just redone the risers and put in recliners.
Ontario’s Albion Cinemas, which appears to be a single cinema showing ‘Indian “Bollywood” features’ in Toronto, is re-opening the Garden City Cinema with “bleacher” seating (could mean stadium, could mean stepped for recliners). A sign at the mall says they’re now hiring and opening this month.
Permit from the city issued September 16, 2022:
“Interior Alteration. Albion Cinemas o/a Garden City Cinemas-Occupancy for a new tenant, in an existing single storey, multi-tenant building. Interior alterations to include: demolition of walls, stairs, construction of walls, stairs, installation of doors, to create a UTR, box office, garbage disposal enclosures, on the main floor & a manager’s office on the mezzanine floor. It also includes: new bleacher seating, access ramps, millwork & new floor finishes. Mechanical and Electrical work being done.”
September 28, 2023:
“Plumb Building Alteration. Related Building Permit: 22-136255 RE. Garden City Cinema. Location of work within bldg: Unit 101. Replace plumbing fixtures in existing bathrooms. Adding one new UTR washroom. Adding one new kitchen sink.”
December 13, 2023:
“Wire Bldg Alteration. Related Building Permit: 22-136255 RE. Wire and install electrical lighting and devices”
This started as a 12-secreen indie second run theatre called Cinema City McGillivray. It replaced the 8-screen Cinema City Pembina near Bishop Grandin. One auditorium was replaced with the VIP lounge.
Thanks for the photo of St. Vital 6. I wish photos of the interior existed.
I do think we should split this listing into two: SilverCity is in the mall at roughly the same location where St. Vital 6 was, but they’re two different buildings and two different theatres.
I agree, theatrefan, it’s so unfortunate because I still found the streetscape theatres superior to the SilverCitys in many ways. Victoria Terrace looks like it was a nice one.
Landmark Cinemas says the Towne 8 will “temporarily close” citing staffing shortages and a need to focus on Grant Park. The theatre will go dark after the scheduled shows on Thursday, July 7th. No re-opening date or timeline was provided.
According to testimony in the Cineworld/Cineplex failed takeover lawsuit, Cineplex and RioCan are working on a plan to downsize and rebuild this location.
It’s very weird to me that this cinema has the circuit board carpet found in the Famous Players Colossus theatres… Famous was known for having custom carpet made, but I guess this was an off-the-shelf option if the competition had it?
Cinema 1 had blue seats with a green/teal theme on the marquee/doors, cinema 2 had red seats and a red theme, while cinema 3 had grey-green seats with a blue theme.
You can see so in this news video from opening day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsNPfL2EUv8
I wonder if there was some kind of mix-up with the seats though? You would think since the red seats went in the red auditorium, then they should’ve had the blue seats in the Bijou (#3)?
According to this, the mall has terminated the lease, changed the locks, and booted Cineplex as a tenant. Very interesting, especially considering Cineplex used to own 50 per cent of the mall.
I believe this is cinema 5— it’s one of the new ones Cineplex added in 1998. It looks exactly as it did, they’ve just redone the risers and put in recliners.
In the bird’s-eye view I posted, it appears theatres 2 and 3 occupy the original single screen auditorium.
Theatres 1 and 4 added in 1989. Theatres 5 through 8 added 1998.
This is a really great theatre.
Ontario’s Albion Cinemas, which appears to be a single cinema showing ‘Indian “Bollywood” features’ in Toronto, is re-opening the Garden City Cinema with “bleacher” seating (could mean stadium, could mean stepped for recliners). A sign at the mall says they’re now hiring and opening this month.
Permit from the city issued September 16, 2022:
“Interior Alteration. Albion Cinemas o/a Garden City Cinemas-Occupancy for a new tenant, in an existing single storey, multi-tenant building. Interior alterations to include: demolition of walls, stairs, construction of walls, stairs, installation of doors, to create a UTR, box office, garbage disposal enclosures, on the main floor & a manager’s office on the mezzanine floor. It also includes: new bleacher seating, access ramps, millwork & new floor finishes. Mechanical and Electrical work being done.”
September 28, 2023:
“Plumb Building Alteration. Related Building Permit: 22-136255 RE. Garden City Cinema. Location of work within bldg: Unit 101. Replace plumbing fixtures in existing bathrooms. Adding one new UTR washroom. Adding one new kitchen sink.”
December 13, 2023:
“Wire Bldg Alteration. Related Building Permit: 22-136255 RE. Wire and install electrical lighting and devices”
According to a post on Facebook, this theatre is slated to re-open this month.
Jason, thank you so much for extensively archiving this place with all of your photographs. Looks like a really nice and simple Famous build.
This started as a 12-secreen indie second run theatre called Cinema City McGillivray. It replaced the 8-screen Cinema City Pembina near Bishop Grandin. One auditorium was replaced with the VIP lounge.
Thanks, Ken. I’ve got quite a bit of content related to SilverCity that I can add on its own page.
The closure is officially permanent. Poster cases have been removed from the building and it’s up for sale.
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/01/19/temporary-closure-becomes-permanent
Thanks for the photo of St. Vital 6. I wish photos of the interior existed.
I do think we should split this listing into two: SilverCity is in the mall at roughly the same location where St. Vital 6 was, but they’re two different buildings and two different theatres.
In my opinion, they deserve their own listings.
I agree, theatrefan, it’s so unfortunate because I still found the streetscape theatres superior to the SilverCitys in many ways. Victoria Terrace looks like it was a nice one.
The Towne 8 has been boarded up, but the official word is still that the closure is temporary.
Landmark Cinemas says the Towne 8 will “temporarily close” citing staffing shortages and a need to focus on Grant Park. The theatre will go dark after the scheduled shows on Thursday, July 7th. No re-opening date or timeline was provided.
Source: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/movies/towne-cinema-8-to-go-dark-in-temporary-closure-576636162.html
This theatre appears to have gotten three secondhand Famous Players poster cases on the facade as part of a renovation in 2017.
The landlord reports they’ve been informed by Cineplex that SilverCity Windsor is now permanently closed.
They also report Cineplex has started stripping the building, including some property like seats which they feel belongs to them, the landlord.
They’ve asked Cineplex to halt this stripping process until they can have a discussion but will file legal action to block it if necessary.
Cineplex announced today they’re closing SilverCity Windsor— they won’t renew the lease which supposedly expires at the end of the year.
According to testimony in the Cineworld/Cineplex failed takeover lawsuit, Cineplex and RioCan are working on a plan to downsize and rebuild this location.
https://www.timescolonist.com/life/cineplex-s-pandemic-response-was-similar-to-prospective-buyer-other-retailers-ceo-1.24359916
“1 person dead after building partially collapses at North Vancouver worksite”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/building-collapse-north-vancouver-1.6152981
It’s very weird to me that this cinema has the circuit board carpet found in the Famous Players Colossus theatres… Famous was known for having custom carpet made, but I guess this was an off-the-shelf option if the competition had it?
Don’t think they forgot, they just cheaped out which is pretty standard fare for Cineplex. I miss Famous Players.
Did you notice there’s a dead pigeon hanging on the left?
Landmark Cinemas have announced The Garry is permanently closed as of May 19th, 2021.
My favourite urban explorers (urbex), The Proper People, posted a video tour on YouTube yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGHPFuBomI
I was wrong about the seats being swapped.
Cinema 1 had blue seats with a green/teal theme on the marquee/doors, cinema 2 had red seats and a red theme, while cinema 3 had grey-green seats with a blue theme.
You can see so in this news video from opening day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsNPfL2EUv8
I wonder if there was some kind of mix-up with the seats though? You would think since the red seats went in the red auditorium, then they should’ve had the blue seats in the Bijou (#3)?
According to this, the mall has terminated the lease, changed the locks, and booted Cineplex as a tenant. Very interesting, especially considering Cineplex used to own 50 per cent of the mall.
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/northgate-mall-sued-over-lease-termination-571360872.html
I believe this was the first theatre opened under the SilverCity banner.