The Plaza Cinemas closed January 4, 2013 due to the landlord having new use for the land. The building will be torn down and replaced by a new Dick Sporting Goods in the Fall of 2013.
Originally opened by Regal Cinemas in the mid 1990’s, Cleveland Cinemas bought the theater in 2002 when Regal opened a 16-screen megaplex in nearby Medina. In 2007, competition grew again as Cinemark opened a 14-screen theater inside South Park Center Mall in Strongsville, forcing Hickory Ridge to lower its ticket prices and causing the 4-screen independent Strongsville Cinema to go out of business. As of early 2008, Hickory Ridge has again changed hands. Cleveland Cinemas no longer manage the theater. The theater is now run by the former owners of the Stongsville Cinema, since the theater now takes gift certificates from the now-closed Strongsville cinema
I went to the newly remodled Great Lakes Cinema today. It looked like the original 9 theaters stayed in tact, but half the auditorium I was in was a stadium and the other half was orchrestra seating. I was disappointed in the fact that they only showed two previews at the movie I saw, plus the lobby seemed too bland. The movie I went to see was so awful, I have to give thanks to the management who refunded my money. But overall, it will be a nice place to see a movie.
This theater closed in June 1988, exactly one day before Westwood Town Center up the road opened. The last films to play here were the first movies to show at the new Westwood Town Center. The new Westgate theater opened one year later.
Actually, this theater closed sometime in 2001. On Memorial Day Weekend of 2002, a group of juveniles broke into the theater and destroyed almost everything. Damage was done to the lobby, restrooms, projection booth, several theaters, carpet, seats, and a couple screens were damaged, making this incident Mentors most extensive act of vandalism in history. The theater was probably torn down as a result of this since the damage was so extensive that no other operator would have been interested in managing this theater.
Im sorry im taking so long to get back to you. I’ve tried twice to send you the ads, but they keep coming back to me saying your quota is full. Do you have an alternate e-mail I can send those to?
I am a student at Kent State, I used the newspaper archives and was able to scan two GCC ads announcing the “Gala Premiere” of the Randall Park Cinema. I also got a picture of the outside marquee as well. The first movies to play here were “The Gumball Rally”, a disney double feature of “Treasure of Matecumbe” and “The Apple Dumpling Gang”, and “Murder by Death”. Anyone wishing to see these pictures, let me know! These ads were printed on August 10th and 11th 1976
I am a student at Kent State. I used the newspaper archives and scanned the ad in the November 15, 1967 Plain Dealer advertising the opening of this theater, as well as Shoregate that opened that same day. Anyone interested in seeing this ad, let me know. I’ll send it via e-mail!
Back when I lived in South Euclid, we had two choices of movie theaters, Severance and Loews East at Richmond Mall. During that time, whatever didn’t play at Severance would play at Richmond and whatever didn’t play at Richmond mall would play at Severance. In about 96 or 97, when Regal opened up a 10-screen theater behind Eastgate Plaza in Mayfield Heights (for the record, is in a terrible location and the new Richmond and Severance are so much nicer.), Both theaters, along with the new Mayfied 10, started to play the same movies as each other.
The Mayland is not going to be vacant much longer. The Boneyard restaurant and bar is moving in there. Gone are the green tiles and decor that were present when Barnes and Noble occupied that site from 1992-2000. The outside now looks orange. Its going to be interested to see what it will look like when it is finished.
You can send those to me at I appreciate it.
Im interested in seeing them just because I collect photos of older movie theaters becasue I find them to be interesting and to compare them to todays theaters.
General Cinema turned this theater into a second-run discount theater in 1991. Randall Park Mall Cinemas closed its doors on November 18,1993. The last movies shown were “Sleepless in Seattle”,“Striking Distance”, and “In The Line Of Fire”.
It was sad when they closed this theater becasue it was one of the last older theaters that looked great. Cedar Lee is very dumpy but survives because there are more screens and more parking then the Centrum had to offer. It was a much nicer theater and it died because they stopped playing independent films and moved to mainstream movies. For God sakes, it is sad that one of the last movies to play here was Gigli. Gigli bombed everywhere, it wasen’t going to attract customers into the smaller Centrum. It would be nice if the Centrum came back the way it is suppose to be, as an Independent theater.
The entrance to this theater was behind the shopping center. It was best to enter from hathaway and drive behind Marcs where the Garfield Mall Movies sign pointed you in the direction where you would eventually find the parking lot and the box office. I was only there once in the late 1990’s and it was really dumpy by that point. It was the best decision to close this theater because Cinemark Valley View is the biggest and best theater in town with all stadium seating, where the larger theaters feature leather seating in some rows, digital everything, a game room, and a much nicer decor and compare it to a run-down, shoebox design theater where some of the screens did not have stereo, it really didn’t stand a chance. Regal took over National Theatre Corp. around 1994 and with the exception of Severance (Which was torn down and rebuilt as a better Regal), Regal no longer operates any of the theaters they acquired in the NTC buyout because those theaters were dull and dingy.
I was at Randall Park Mall yesterday, and as I walked by Diamond’s Mens Shop, I noticed that a door was opened that showed those infamous steps that took you to the cinema, which makes me question whether or not the theater has been gutted or if it is still there, but used as a storage room.
The Plaza Cinemas closed January 4, 2013 due to the landlord having new use for the land. The building will be torn down and replaced by a new Dick Sporting Goods in the Fall of 2013.
How do they expect to stay in business when they do not list showtimes in the Plain Dealer or update their website?
Originally opened by Regal Cinemas in the mid 1990’s, Cleveland Cinemas bought the theater in 2002 when Regal opened a 16-screen megaplex in nearby Medina. In 2007, competition grew again as Cinemark opened a 14-screen theater inside South Park Center Mall in Strongsville, forcing Hickory Ridge to lower its ticket prices and causing the 4-screen independent Strongsville Cinema to go out of business. As of early 2008, Hickory Ridge has again changed hands. Cleveland Cinemas no longer manage the theater. The theater is now run by the former owners of the Stongsville Cinema, since the theater now takes gift certificates from the now-closed Strongsville cinema
I went to the newly remodled Great Lakes Cinema today. It looked like the original 9 theaters stayed in tact, but half the auditorium I was in was a stadium and the other half was orchrestra seating. I was disappointed in the fact that they only showed two previews at the movie I saw, plus the lobby seemed too bland. The movie I went to see was so awful, I have to give thanks to the management who refunded my money. But overall, it will be a nice place to see a movie.
The theater has officially reopened. It is listed in the Plain Dealer as Great Lakes Stadium 16. I’ll have to plan on going out that way to see it.
The shoe store that occupies the Richmond Theater has closed. The building is now vacant.
Found the ad for the opening of the adjacent 6-plex on April 5, 1986. If anyone is interested in seeing it, let me know!
Opened in June 1988, the day after the Westgate Cinema City closed. All the movies that were the first to play here were the last at Westgate Mall.
This theater closed in June 1988, exactly one day before Westwood Town Center up the road opened. The last films to play here were the first movies to show at the new Westwood Town Center. The new Westgate theater opened one year later.
Actually, this theater closed sometime in 2001. On Memorial Day Weekend of 2002, a group of juveniles broke into the theater and destroyed almost everything. Damage was done to the lobby, restrooms, projection booth, several theaters, carpet, seats, and a couple screens were damaged, making this incident Mentors most extensive act of vandalism in history. The theater was probably torn down as a result of this since the damage was so extensive that no other operator would have been interested in managing this theater.
Tom, I’d like to see the pictures. Could you send them to me at ? Thanks
Steve
Dave-bronx,
Im sorry im taking so long to get back to you. I’ve tried twice to send you the ads, but they keep coming back to me saying your quota is full. Do you have an alternate e-mail I can send those to?
I am a student at Kent State, I used the newspaper archives and was able to scan two GCC ads announcing the “Gala Premiere” of the Randall Park Cinema. I also got a picture of the outside marquee as well. The first movies to play here were “The Gumball Rally”, a disney double feature of “Treasure of Matecumbe” and “The Apple Dumpling Gang”, and “Murder by Death”. Anyone wishing to see these pictures, let me know! These ads were printed on August 10th and 11th 1976
I am a student at Kent State. I used the newspaper archives and scanned the ad in the November 15, 1967 Plain Dealer advertising the opening of this theater, as well as Shoregate that opened that same day. Anyone interested in seeing this ad, let me know. I’ll send it via e-mail!
Back when I lived in South Euclid, we had two choices of movie theaters, Severance and Loews East at Richmond Mall. During that time, whatever didn’t play at Severance would play at Richmond and whatever didn’t play at Richmond mall would play at Severance. In about 96 or 97, when Regal opened up a 10-screen theater behind Eastgate Plaza in Mayfield Heights (for the record, is in a terrible location and the new Richmond and Severance are so much nicer.), Both theaters, along with the new Mayfied 10, started to play the same movies as each other.
The Mayland is not going to be vacant much longer. The Boneyard restaurant and bar is moving in there. Gone are the green tiles and decor that were present when Barnes and Noble occupied that site from 1992-2000. The outside now looks orange. Its going to be interested to see what it will look like when it is finished.
You can send those to me at I appreciate it.
Im interested in seeing them just because I collect photos of older movie theaters becasue I find them to be interesting and to compare them to todays theaters.
Thanks Mark
Mark, Anyway you can e-mail me those pics?
General Cinema turned this theater into a second-run discount theater in 1991. Randall Park Mall Cinemas closed its doors on November 18,1993. The last movies shown were “Sleepless in Seattle”,“Striking Distance”, and “In The Line Of Fire”.
It was sad when they closed this theater becasue it was one of the last older theaters that looked great. Cedar Lee is very dumpy but survives because there are more screens and more parking then the Centrum had to offer. It was a much nicer theater and it died because they stopped playing independent films and moved to mainstream movies. For God sakes, it is sad that one of the last movies to play here was Gigli. Gigli bombed everywhere, it wasen’t going to attract customers into the smaller Centrum. It would be nice if the Centrum came back the way it is suppose to be, as an Independent theater.
The entrance to this theater was behind the shopping center. It was best to enter from hathaway and drive behind Marcs where the Garfield Mall Movies sign pointed you in the direction where you would eventually find the parking lot and the box office. I was only there once in the late 1990’s and it was really dumpy by that point. It was the best decision to close this theater because Cinemark Valley View is the biggest and best theater in town with all stadium seating, where the larger theaters feature leather seating in some rows, digital everything, a game room, and a much nicer decor and compare it to a run-down, shoebox design theater where some of the screens did not have stereo, it really didn’t stand a chance. Regal took over National Theatre Corp. around 1994 and with the exception of Severance (Which was torn down and rebuilt as a better Regal), Regal no longer operates any of the theaters they acquired in the NTC buyout because those theaters were dull and dingy.
I believe Rolling Acres is still in business, although it was closed for a number of years and is now run by an independent operator.
This theater also played “Back To The Future” back in 1985. Does anyone have any photos of this theater????
I was at Randall Park Mall yesterday, and as I walked by Diamond’s Mens Shop, I noticed that a door was opened that showed those infamous steps that took you to the cinema, which makes me question whether or not the theater has been gutted or if it is still there, but used as a storage room.