Encore Moviez

Encore Moviez (with a “z”) was a short-lived independent moviehouse whose entry into the marketplace was received with a shrug. The genesis of the Encore Moviez project dates back to a proposal by Go Bonkerz Co. in 1994 to build a two-structure facility as a family amusement center. One building would house a six-screen movie theater with family films and the other would be a entertainment destination with miniature golf, arcade and roller rink.

Just a mile away, Regal opened its Shiloh Crossing megaplex in November of 1995 which should have ended the 6-screen theater concept. But in 1996, the township agreed to the plan and you have to appreciate Go Bonkerz “go for broke” attitude in making the theater half of this project happen. The bad news is that within 15 months, Go Bonkerz and Encore Moviez would be in bankruptzy shutting down operations quickly.

Encore Moviez had crossed the production finish line on November 20, 1997. It opened its six screen, popular priced movie theater priced between a discount house and a full-price, first run house. Encore didn’t find its audience and just four months later, the company was in bankruptcy and the venue closed.

The facility was used for free screenings and was sublet as a house of worship. A new operator took on the venue as a second-run discount house complete with a drive-up window for popcorn. It failed again on January 27, 2002. The owner of the property took on the theater in 2004. Centre Properties announced a demolition but that was put on hold.

In what undoubtedly was a lenient lease arrangement, the Encore Moviez came back under Irving Theatre operator Harry A. Burkhart III on May 24, 2004 for a short term leasing tryout. Burkhart closed a bit after that leasing deal on January 29, 2007. This time, Centre Properties did the right thing and demolished the building in favor of a new-build strip with improved offerings.

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