Galtier may show films again

[Diane 1]

Scott Simon wrote:

"After losing Roseville GTI (scoff all you want, it was a great place to catch a cheap show- especially for young people that don't have alot of options!), it would be great to have an alt movie theater in lowertown."
Downtowner, try the Plaza on White Bear Avenue or treat yourself to the Riverview --in the 612 but just across the bridge. It does not sound like Galtier will be showing the same kinds of films that were featured in Roseville......
Mr. Palumbo said, "we have surrounded ourselves with competent professionals." What he doesn't realize is, few exist in this market.
Continuing, "We will show indy, documentary, foreign, art, local film makers, and some second and first-run, as well. We have a film booking agent who has been in the business for twenty years, and is well connected locally and nationally." AGAIN, this guy works on commission and you can't show first-run in one theater and second run in the next and a foreign film in the third. To read this convinces me that you don't have a clue.
Mr. Palumbo goes on to state, "We are working with the same company that originally built out Galtier Cinema 4, to update sound, seating, projection equipment, and the concession area, which is now empty."
Dear sir, now I'm starting to actually feel pity for you. All the materials that you need are available for pennies on the dollar as theatres close all over the country. Why would you work with a vendor in the business when if you knew what you were doing, you could open for 30% of whatever they have quoted to you? I suspect you will be using your money and your family's money to outfit a failed business for the second or third owners of this tragedy.
I think I'm going to have to concoct some wild scheme to win a STAR grant. I'll quote retail prices in my business plan and then buy equipment on e-bay and pocket the difference. It all seems so easy doesn't it? And by the way, I hardly think the response on this website has been "overwhelmingly favorable". Here is how to measure overwhelming. How many people or better yet, how many banks have called to offer funding? That is the true determining factor.
Did you read Dominic Papatola's column in today's PP about how small theaters are dealing with and preparing for the economic downturn? What makes you think there are people living nearby or willing to drive and park downtown in the kind of numbers you will need to keep the lights on? I know a couple of theatres that were paying between $2.50 and $4.00 rent per square foot annually plus utilities and maintenance and taxes. I bet you will be paying close to 10 times that. And by the way, both of these theatres closed! Wishing it will work is one thing. We all have our dreams. But actually putting a business plan in place for the movie business is very high-risk. You don't seem to acknowledge this and it worries me. You are truly from the "if I build it, they will come camp" and there is a word to describe these kind of people. It is "BANKRUPT!"

Wow, why all the anger? Did this guy steal your cookie or something? Usually people here rant about the lack of businesses in downtown, and blame the city council for not promoting development. Here's someone trying to something that many of us who live/work around downtown have wanted for ages, and you rip it apart in an oddly focused and angry manner.

The Riverview is good, but not perfect. Parking sucks when the movies are good, so you often have to park over a block away. The women's room is tiny and has massive lines. Nothing is perfect - plus the 30 minute drive really doesn't appeal sometimes.

[Diane 1]

Sorry, double post - the first didn't appear for a long time & I though it was lost.

[Scott Simon]

Torin,

Please, aside from an occasional hockey game or a concert at the Xcel, please give me one good reason to make a trip to downtown St. Paul. No Target. No retail. No Nicollet Mall. No Manny's, Morton's, Murray's, J. D. Hoyt's, or any of the other 30+ excellent restaurants I can find in the 612. Orpheum, State, Pantages, Orchestra Hall,... I mean I could go on and on and on.

But rather than that, why don't you give me a single reason to get in the car or on a dirty bus and drive to St. Paul. And by the way, I live in Eagan, in the "651" and I still can't find a reason to go there. If I want to hear Garrison Keillor I can come over to the Fitzgerald. I'm mid-50's and would feel like a teenager in that crowd. If I want to hear some local jazz, I would visit the Artist's Quarter. I might pass by the edges of Downtown St. Paul on the way to Stillwater or Lake Elmo, but honestly, there is not a darn thing to do in St. Paul that interests me other than the 2 or 3 things I have mentioned. As was said by someone much wiser than me, "the AVERAGE age in St. Paul is DEAD!"

[Scott Simon]

Diane1 I prefer to think I'm brutally honest, not angry. But I'm going to lay back a few steps and let others discuss this. I think I've painted a pretty accurate picture of how risky this is.

I guess if I was angry, it would be at people (Ex: the circus school) getting these STAR grants. If these ideas had genuine merit they could be financed on their own. It is all about subsidy and in general, I am against subsidy unless it has a real strong educational component to it. I'm against stadiums too and I think it is terrible that the City of Minneapolis owns and maintains 4 downtown theaters with taxpayer money. I hope that Mystic Lake's new showroom and the one soon to open at Treasure Island will teach Minneapolis that they should not be in the theater business. And I feel the same about St. Paul. As I understand it, the check for the building of the Ordway was written by one family and that is the way I prefer to see things done. I want tax dollars used for schools and roads and security. Not for art house theaters that generate sales of less than 100 tickets per day. But, it really is none of my business. If the City of St. Paul feels they need to subsidize these kind of ventures in order to keep the city from drying up and blowing away, that is their choice. I live in Eagan and love it out here.

[Diane 1]

Scott Simon wrote:

Torin,
Please, aside from an occasional hockey game or a concert at the Xcel, please give me one good reason to make a trip to downtown St. Paul. No Target. No retail. No Nicollet Mall. No Manny's, Morton's, Murray's, J. D. Hoyt's, or any of the other 30+ excellent restaurants I can find in the 612. Orpheum, State, Pantages, Orchestra Hall,... I mean I could go on and on and on.
But rather than that, why don't you give me a single reason to get in the car or on a dirty bus and drive to St. Paul. And by the way, I live in Eagan, in the "651" and I still can't find a reason to go there. If I want to hear Garrison Keillor I can come over to the Fitzgerald. I'm mid-50's and would feel like a teenager in that crowd. If I want to hear some local jazz, I would visit the Artist's Quarter. I might pass by the edges of Downtown St. Paul on the way to Stillwater or Lake Elmo, but honestly, there is not a darn thing to do in St. Paul that interests me other than the 2 or 3 things I have mentioned. As was said by someone much wiser than me, "the AVERAGE age in St. Paul is DEAD!"

So, your argument is that because there isn't much to do in downtown St. Paul, we should argue against someone who wants to develop....something to do?

I have to say - I grew up in Eagan, and I can't think of a single thing that would bring me back there. Museums, good restaurants, cultural activities, music venues, theaters.....nope, Eagan's got none of those. Just chain restaurants & strip malls. It doesn't even have the wide-open green spaces it had when I was a kid, just more & more prefab developments.

[Scott Simon]

I love living in Eagan because I don't have to see waste by government day-in and day-out like I would see if I lived and PAID TO LIVE in St. Paul and Minneapolis. If I feel a need to see or experience Museums, cultural activities, music venues, theaters, I go to Minneapolis ---who I must say seems to be getting more for their subsidy dollars than St. Paul does ... although you do have the mostly empty Fitzgerald and the circus school. ROFLOL

[Diane 1]

Scott Simon wrote:

I love living in Eagan because I don't have to see waste by government day-in and day-out like I would see if I lived and PAID TO LIVE in St. Paul and Minneapolis. If I feel a need to see or experience Museums, cultural activities, music venues, theaters, I go to Minneapolis ---who I must say seems to be getting more for their subsidy dollars than St. Paul does ... although you do have the mostly empty Fitzgerald and the circus school. ROFLOL

Ah. So you prefer to live in a suburb and make use of the subsidized activities in the city, all the while ripping on the city for...subsidizing activities. That's a nice twist on the usual anti-development complaints here.

[Mellers]

Scott Simon wrote:

I love living in Eagan because I don't have to see waste by government day-in and day-out like I would see if I lived and PAID TO LIVE in St. Paul and Minneapolis. If I feel a need to see or experience Museums, cultural activities, music venues, theaters, I go to Minneapolis ---who I must say seems to be getting more for their subsidy dollars than St. Paul does ... although you do have the mostly empty Fitzgerald and the circus school. ROFLOL

I don't know if you've ever been to the Fitz; I've been there 1/2 a dozen times and it's almost always full (mostly concerts). I don't disagree that Mpls is busier than St Paul, but this article is about reviving a movie theatre that hasn't shown movies in quite a long time. As a new downtown St Paul resident (6 months), I'm excited to hear about this! It's not us residents' fault that downtown is the way it is; many of my co-workers are envious of my downtown St Paul life and are considering moving here (I ran into a co-worker after work as he was touring various open-houses on foot).

Let's just agree that this is a good move for downtown St Paul. I applaud these efforts!

[Torin]

In St Paul I can get pretty much the same stuff I can in Minneapolis, just for a lot better of a deal. I can spend a night on the town here and not have to deal with glossed, puffed over fakery, as well as not having to spend a ton of money.

Great restaurants? We've got 'em... Trattoria, LoTo, Senor Wong, Fuji Ya, Kincaid's Steak House, River Room, St Paul Grill, Sakura, Sawatdee, and the list continues.

It's also been stated we have Landmark Center, Central Library (which, even after the Minneapolis downtown library opened still continued to garner best of the Twin Cities awards), Science Museum and Omni Theater, etc. I spend a great deal of time in both downtowns, and due to the better atmosphere in St Paul and more reasonable prices, I spend my money in St Paul. Not to mention we don't need to drive anywhere - on a nice day walk the streets, and on cold days hop in the skyways. Ultimate in convenience.

Why on earth are you so hostile against Galtier's movie theaters opening? I just don't get it... you say there isn't enough to do downtown St Paul, and here someone comes bringing in a movie theater to fill a gap in a market that had NO movie theater in an architecturally stunning building, and you are completely hostile. Someone brings something into a city that you say has nothing to do and you're mad?

Sounds like your argument doesn't hold water, as all of us who live in downtown St Paul can attest to. Ah well, we don't need the crime, murders, and trash that hang out around DT Minneapolis anyhow - it is clear that the new Galtier cinema owners are catering to a different crowd.

I just don't understand the hostility you have against St Paul getting this movie theater. Were you mad when St Paul got the Xcel and Wild Hockey instead of Minneapolis, too?

[Patrick McGuiness]

J&P,
Don't let any naysayers (or Scott) keep you down. This is an excellent idea. It is true that Downtown St. Paul is lacking many things to bring people in when there is not an xcel event. This will be the start to a revitalization. Starting any business is risky and takes guts. It is far easier to be a keyboard cowboy and put down other's ideas anonymously than it is to actually do something. I'm proud that you are willing to take the risks associated with starting a business in order to benefit St. Paul. The rewards will come, and even then there will be the whiners and complainers that do not support you. Keep up the hard work.

[Moi]

Relic wrote:

Where is Dave Thune to protect us. Indie films are notoriously graphic with violence and deviant sexual behavior.
With no ushers in the theaters, this place will become a hotbed of prostitution and drug trade.
I am fearful that Galtier will become nothing but an indoor mall for hookers and johns.
Please save us with your wisdom and ancient policies.

I don't think you read the article very well - this place is catering towards those with sophisticated tastes, the type that would BE LIVING downtown St Paul. Would you make the argument that the Omni Theater is has also done this? PUH-LEASE.

Galtier Cinema is way up on the third floor, the building has security who are constantly monitoring the place, etc. Penumbra and staff will be able to monitor who goes in and out of the place.

Dave Thune supports a movie theater.

Why do we have all these people making slippery slope arguments about this movie theater? The slippery slope is also fallacious.

[Moi]

Scott - have you conveniently forgotten that over double the people live downtown St Paul compared to when you officed there in the mid-1970s? Buildings have been restored, new ones built, and new attractions. There is now a critical mass of people which could support a place like Galtier which didn't exactly exist before.

Though, how do you address Galtier's success in the mid 90s when Henry Zaidan owned it? Or Town Square and MN World Trade Center's success during the 90s? Special interests and those with agendas have driven off a lot of what was around. There's NO REASON why these places can't be successful as they once were.

You are living in the past - some people are willing to stick their necks on the line, and rather than support them in their ventures and wish them luck, you chop their heads off and nay-say.

BTW: Galtier opened in 1985, and planning didn't start until 1980.

[John Palumbo]

Patrick McG,
Thanks for your support; well spoken. Peg and I are committed to doing this, and doing it right the first time. Enjoy the show.
John

[Fred]

John,

Thanks for commenting on the article. Best of luck to you with this venture, as it would be a great addition to downtown.

If I could suggest anything, it's to really pay attention to parking, as you seem to be. That's the achilles heel of downtown St. Paul. Even though you will obviously have some core customers who will walk from surrounding properties, easy parking which is free in some manner is crucial to success.

It's an unfortunate necessity of the urban cores here in a highly suburbanized metro area, regardless of the indie/arthouse niche you're approaching (which is exactly what is needed, not another dollar theater or first-run venue).

One other suggestion is offering "movie night" package deals in conjunction with local restaurants and bars. Though this obviously will cannibalize your food and beverage sales somewhat, I'm sure you can work with the merchants to make an equitable split.

Again, best of luck to you. I look forward to the opening.

[Bill Binkley]

Scott Simon wrote:

I love living in Eagan because I don't have to see waste by government day-in and day-out like I would see if I lived and PAID TO LIVE in St. Paul and Minneapolis. If I feel a need to see or experience Museums, cultural activities, music venues, theaters, I go to Minneapolis ---who I must say seems to be getting more for their subsidy dollars than St. Paul does ... although you do have the mostly empty Fitzgerald and the circus school. ROFLOL

Are you aware that you just admitted to being a free rider?

[John Palumbo]

Thanks Fred,

We appreciate your suggestions.

We hope to have a movie/parking validation for two or three dollars. Clean, dry parking underground at Galtier would be worth a couple of bucks, especially during inclement weather. If I was a downtown resident (we've looked at it and may move there in the future)I'd use the free evening parking on the streets. I am not a big fan of paying to park anywhere.

I've already discussed collaborations with Black Dog Cafe, Golden's Deli, and LoTo, and will speak with Trattoria Da Vinci, and possibly others. We plan on featuring sandwiches and wraps from some of these local businesses.

We have also had conversations with local indy film makers, and plan to speak with other artists for displaying art in our lobby, for sale off-site. Another option might be to have a local singer/songwriter in the theaters as pre-show entertainment as opposed to concession ads at the volume of a wide body jet taking off.

Keep the faith.
John

[Scott Simon]

Fred wrote:

John,

One other suggestion is offering "movie night" package deals in conjunction with local restaurants and bars.

Perhaps Fred would care to name the bars and restaurants that are open at 6:00pm within 3 blocks of Galtier?

[Fred]

Scott Simon wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps Fred would care to name the bars and restaurants that are open at 6:00pm within 3 blocks of Galtier?

Black Dog, Tanpopo, DaVinci... Did Sawatdee reopen their space yet? That's just a few off the top of my head. Places open and close.

[Fred]

Scott Simon wrote:

Oh my God!(Banging my forehead with my fist!) If only Paul Wellstone were here for your opening night performance. Will there be Granola at the concession stand?

You're quite the jerk, aren't you? Do you own your own business? Perhaps you can show all the rest of us how to take a risk in life and make a go of something that makes the community better. Or are you just a person who likes to get attention by being nasty?

[Scott Simon]

Brutally honest ... not angry or nasty.

And yes, I have owned my own business for 21 years. It is located in the "612" but I live in the "651".

And thanks for the tips. I will check out these locations that you have suggested Black Dog, Tanpopo, DaVinci... and see how they compare with the real world of successful restaurants.