As a youngster growing up in the Tampa Bay area, I have seen much of the growth and tragedy among Tampa’s cinema scene. I always thought it was a treat to go to the Twin Bays after my grandmother would take me shopping on MacDill Air Base. She would treat me out once a week as if I was good all day, and what a treat it was. I loved it because it was so small and cozy. You walked and you saw the entire building lol. And it was a great retreat for military families looking for affordable entertainment without breaking the bank. It was a sad day when AMC shuttered both locations. Its funny now when I drive by the old location..I can imagine all of the great memories I have attached to the old Twin.
The Aventura 24 was constructed in 1998. its always been a pretty well kept cinema (due to the fact its in Aventura lol)I remember this location opening in the middle of AMC’s megaplex expansion phase.
The Plitt 4 was opened by C/Odeon in the rear of what was then Brandon’s “mall”. If I remember correctly, It was sandwiched between a Chuck E. Cheese and a K-Mart(with the world’s ugliest Red and Blue marquee logo) and I think that there was a Scotty’s Hardware at the other end of the mall. It was odd that C/O decided to keep the Plitt at 4 screens knowing that a super-regional mall was being constructed a mile west. AMC never jumped on it and ultimately killed this cinema by expanding their location to 20-screens in the late 90s. Last time I checked, it was converted into a New York-style Chinese Buffet, a Dan’s Fan City, and a Leslie’s Pool Supply.
Yes, this theater opened as an 8-plex in 1986. as part of the then new Regency Mall. At the time of its opening, it was actually the third cinema to open in the Brandon area (Cineplex Odeon owned a 4-plex, The Plitt, not even a mile East of Regency and there was the Brandon Twin Theater, which both later became discount second run cinemas) The original eight cinemas are now cinemas 1,2,15-20. And yes, the current Guest Services was the former Box Office. If memory serves me correct, AMC added 12 screens not very long after the Brandon Town Center was built on the south side of State Road 60 to squash rumors of AMC moving across the street to the mall as well as preventing a competing chain from entering the market. During this time period, AMC also built another megaplex across the city (Veterans Expressway 24) to keep up with Regal(Lutz, New Port Richey, and Sarasota Hollywood megaplexes) and Muvico’s(Centro Ybor 20, Starlight 20, Baywalk 20) invasion of the area. I remember seeing all of the blockbuster releases there growing up in Brandon. The closest cinemas to AMC within 30 miles are the Channelside 10, Centro Ybor 20, Starlight 20, Lakeside Village 18(if memory serves me correct), and the University Mall Cinemas.
As a youngster growing up in the Tampa Bay area, I have seen much of the growth and tragedy among Tampa’s cinema scene. I always thought it was a treat to go to the Twin Bays after my grandmother would take me shopping on MacDill Air Base. She would treat me out once a week as if I was good all day, and what a treat it was. I loved it because it was so small and cozy. You walked and you saw the entire building lol. And it was a great retreat for military families looking for affordable entertainment without breaking the bank. It was a sad day when AMC shuttered both locations. Its funny now when I drive by the old location..I can imagine all of the great memories I have attached to the old Twin.
The Aventura 24 was constructed in 1998. its always been a pretty well kept cinema (due to the fact its in Aventura lol)I remember this location opening in the middle of AMC’s megaplex expansion phase.
The Plitt 4 was opened by C/Odeon in the rear of what was then Brandon’s “mall”. If I remember correctly, It was sandwiched between a Chuck E. Cheese and a K-Mart(with the world’s ugliest Red and Blue marquee logo) and I think that there was a Scotty’s Hardware at the other end of the mall. It was odd that C/O decided to keep the Plitt at 4 screens knowing that a super-regional mall was being constructed a mile west. AMC never jumped on it and ultimately killed this cinema by expanding their location to 20-screens in the late 90s. Last time I checked, it was converted into a New York-style Chinese Buffet, a Dan’s Fan City, and a Leslie’s Pool Supply.
and the newer AMC Westshore 14..well, they added a second floor expansion in recent times to Westshore Plaza
Yes, this theater opened as an 8-plex in 1986. as part of the then new Regency Mall. At the time of its opening, it was actually the third cinema to open in the Brandon area (Cineplex Odeon owned a 4-plex, The Plitt, not even a mile East of Regency and there was the Brandon Twin Theater, which both later became discount second run cinemas) The original eight cinemas are now cinemas 1,2,15-20. And yes, the current Guest Services was the former Box Office. If memory serves me correct, AMC added 12 screens not very long after the Brandon Town Center was built on the south side of State Road 60 to squash rumors of AMC moving across the street to the mall as well as preventing a competing chain from entering the market. During this time period, AMC also built another megaplex across the city (Veterans Expressway 24) to keep up with Regal(Lutz, New Port Richey, and Sarasota Hollywood megaplexes) and Muvico’s(Centro Ybor 20, Starlight 20, Baywalk 20) invasion of the area. I remember seeing all of the blockbuster releases there growing up in Brandon. The closest cinemas to AMC within 30 miles are the Channelside 10, Centro Ybor 20, Starlight 20, Lakeside Village 18(if memory serves me correct), and the University Mall Cinemas.