Cinema closes; plans to reopen are in the works

Signs on the doors of the North Adams Movieplex 8 in Steeple City Plaza say it's temporarily closed, but when the eight-screen movie house reopens in the coming weeks, it's expected to be under new ownership.

[viewer]

I'm s sorry to hear that this theatre is closed. with the holiday movies coming out soon, and so many of our young people enjoying the theatre, as well as some of us a bit older, it is a shame to not have this here. to visit the mall to watch a movie isn't always possible for local people, and the price of the gas and entrance to the movie can also be prohibitive. we need this theatre back and quickly. I hope the courts move on this. it would be a shame for it to sit closed for very long!

[SpartanODST]

It is a shame, and you can't blame the Mayor for it's closing, BUT...

...if he spoke with the property owners a week ago, and knew, why didn't he give us some sort of warning? I think we could have have handled it, and I would have liked to hear it from him instead of as yesterday's rumor, and now today's headline shocker.

[ptr]

SpartanODST wrote:

It is a shame, and you can't blame the Mayor for it's closing, BUT...
...if he spoke with the property owners a week ago, and knew, why didn't he give us some sort of warning? I think we could have have handled it, and I would have liked to hear it from him instead of as yesterday's rumor, and now today's headline shocker.

Why exactly do you think you or anyone other than those who worked at the cinema should have been given some kind of advanced notice about their closing? Did Mark Moulton call you personally a few weeks before he announced he was closing the General Store? Did the owner of Los Amigos let you know he was closing his dive after only a few weeks? If the Mayor had made a public announcement that the cinemas were closing, what would that have meant? Neil Ellis has told the Mayor he will reopen it himself. That's good news for the people who work there, especially if he can get past the legal hurdles quickly. Instead of politicizing this, let's all get behind the new management and make the theaters work long-term.

[moron league]

Hey SpartanODST -

You're a perfect example of ninety-nine percent of Alcombright's supporters. You start out by saying you can't blame the mayor for the theater's closing, and then you whimper and do exactly that. What a bunch of weasels you all are.

Did you actually read the newspaper article, or did all the two syllable words scare you off?

The ENTIRE chain folded, pea-brain! According to you (and I'm sure all the other pea-brained Alcombright supporters) the mayor should have spoken to everyone in New England beforehand.

And you know what? That still wouldn't have satisfied you folks.

[SpartanODST]

ptr wrote:

<quoted text>
Why exactly do you think you or anyone other than those who worked at the cinema should have been given some kind of advanced notice about their closing? Did Mark Moulton call you personally a few weeks before he announced he was closing the General Store? Did the owner of Los Amigos let you know he was closing his dive after only a few weeks? If the Mayor had made a public announcement that the cinemas were closing, what would that have meant? Neil Ellis has told the Mayor he will reopen it himself. That's good news for the people who work there, especially if he can get past the legal hurdles quickly. Instead of politicizing this, let's all get behind the new management and make the theaters work long-term.

Moulton did give a heads-up, and as a result has a store in Adams now.

During the development of the old K-Mart building Barrett had his paws in everything with one announcement after another including battling to keep Peebles out. Now, you think he should be letting people know what's going on when he does?

That's asinine. If Barrett can push people out of the way to be first in line to grab the glory, even when it's not his, he should be at the front of the line when it hits the fan as well.

[Townee]

I know John very well and I know Dick very well. Both are intelligent, competent individuals with a passion for North Adams. In this economy, as much as we may want change, it is important to have well-connected, tough-minded, financially knowledgable leadership in place. It'd be a tough call but I'd go with the 20plus years of experience here; at least until a recovery is well in place and a newbie can get a handle on things in a much less critical environment. Same goes for Pittsfield. On the job training in this type of environment has proven to be a recipe for disaster historically. Best wishes to both communities.

[local man]

SpartanODST wrote:

<quoted text>
Moulton did give a heads-up, and as a result has a store in Adams now.
During the development of the old K-Mart building Barrett had his paws in everything with one announcement after another including battling to keep Peebles out. Now, you think he should be letting people know what's going on when he does?
That's asinine. If Barrett can push people out of the way to be first in line to grab the glory, even when it's not his, he should be at the front of the line when it hits the fan as well.

...thats after he did not pay his rent in north adams

[ptr]

SpartanODST wrote:

<quoted text>
Moulton did give a heads-up, and as a result has a store in Adams now.
During the development of the old K-Mart building Barrett had his paws in everything with one announcement after another including battling to keep Peebles out. Now, you think he should be letting people know what's going on when he does?
That's asinine. If Barrett can push people out of the way to be first in line to grab the glory, even when it's not his, he should be at the front of the line when it hits the fan as well.

You're right... Moulton was the one who announced the closing, first claiming it was because his wife didn't want to run the store anymore, then a week later blaming the landlord for high rents, then a week after that saying they were moving to Adams and blaming the entire city for his failure to pay rent to David Carver. Moulton, not the Mayor. Get it? The business owner is responsible for the business, not the Mayor. If a movie chain goes bankrupt, it's not up to the Mayor to send you an emergency email or hold a news conference. It's up to the Mayor to provide the opportunity for business to locate in that plaza, which he did, and when the business closes, the Mayor works with the owner to help bring new businesses to the plaza.

[More than one story]

Why on earth should the Mayor be making such an announscement Spartan? It is great that he was informed, but it is up to the owners to make that announcement. And why on earth did the Transcript turn the story into a story about the Mayor? Let me guess, if JB gets in and the Transcript didn't support him they are up a creek. But if Dick gets in, and the Transcript didn't support him they know Dick won't hold a grudge because it is more important that the public is informed.

As for your logic Townee, it would make sense to me that in a time of financial crises you put a player in who knows a lot about finances. It is also a good time to put someone fresh in because they will see little things that have been forgotten, they will question things that have gone unquestioned, they will have new ideas and a fresh perspective.

If JB wanted to really do the city a favor he would stand up and say this time there is a really good candidate and I am ready to retire. Instead he says he will retire in two years, and you may end up with horrific choices for your Mayor. Looking at the past 20 years, do you really believe that JB can pull you through this and excell to the point that it won't matter who you get for a mayor in two years? There is nothing saying he can't offer positive input to Dick once he is in.

[retired farmer]

the whole story smells. smells like a Ch. 11, then 7.

Blame the theater-goers who have lost their jobs and have no extra funds for movies, restaurants, and the other non-essentials in the world.

Blame Netflix, X-Box and all the other home entertainment systems.

Blame the high schools for scheduling Friday night football games that deplete the number of theater-goers.

Blame anything, but don't think any politician can work the miracles you want. And if things go south, then things go south.

[Barrett No More]

Townee wrote:

I know John very well and I know Dick very well. Both are intelligent, competent individuals with a passion for North Adams. In this economy, as much as we may want change, it is important to have well-connected, tough-minded, financially knowledgable leadership in place. It'd be a tough call but I'd go with the 20plus years of experience here; at least until a recovery is well in place and a newbie can get a handle on things in a much less critical environment. Same goes for Pittsfield. On the job training in this type of environment has proven to be a recipe for disaster historically. Best wishes to both communities.

I would not agree with you, and history doesn't bear you out. We change presidents every 4 years, sometimes 8. The new blood and administrations have typically been more successful than the old when the new presidents lask beltway experience.

With an eroding tax base, the city doesn't need to stay on the same path. It needs to take an off ramp to go in a different direction, and Alcombright has the business experience and smarts we need.

[Barrett No More]

ptr wrote:

<quoted text>
You're right... Moulton was the one who announced the closing, first claiming it was because his wife didn't want to run the store anymore, then a week later blaming the landlord for high rents, then a week after that saying they were moving to Adams and blaming the entire city for his failure to pay rent to David Carver. Moulton, not the Mayor. Get it? The business owner is responsible for the business, not the Mayor. If a movie chain goes bankrupt, it's not up to the Mayor to send you an emergency email or hold a news conference. It's up to the Mayor to provide the opportunity for business to locate in that plaza, which he did, and when the business closes, the Mayor works with the owner to help bring new businesses to the plaza.

It's okay to brag about the cinema opening, but remain silent until it closes.

It's okay to brag about a new Lowe's, but remain silent now that it's not going to happen.

Sort of a double standard isn't it? Classic Barrett/Barrett supporter. One standard for himself, another for the rest of the world.

[Wonk]

Townee wrote:

On the job training in this type of environment has proven to be a recipe for disaster historically. Best wishes to both communities.

Very civil of you, but the historical parallel doesn't help your argumnent. You think NA is in worse shape now than it was in JB3's first term? He learned on the job and by your reasoning must have been a disaster. But here you are 13 elections later endorsing him?

Nah. Running a city is just as much an art as a science. Dick knows the science, and I trust his "art" better than John's.

As for the other guy--the whole "this guy thinks like 99% of Alcombright supporters" is a pretty ridiculous assertion, too. that is just a meaningless phrase signifying a loyalty more to partisanship to truth. You can be ignored safely.

[Guy Hawkes]

SpartanODST wrote:

It is a shame, and you can't blame the Mayor for it's closing, BUT...
...if he spoke with the property owners a week ago, and knew, why didn't he give us some sort of warning? I think we could have have handled it, and I would have liked to hear it from him instead of as yesterday's rumor, and now today's headline shocker.

Perhaps some but not all of the blame can indeed be placed on the Mayor for NOT allowing a sign that indicates that there is a movieplex in the town of North Adams. Duh! Look for a McDonald's and what do you seek ... Big Yellow Arches.
The other blame is to be placed directly to Cinema North. I myself have issued a half dozen or more email complaints and live phone chats with this company and no one ever responded. They just did not care. BTW, why pay $7.00 for 36¢ worth of popcorn?

[litigist]

Townee wrote:

I know John very well and I know Dick very well. Both are intelligent, competent individuals with a passion for North Adams. In this economy, as much as we may want change, it is important to have well-connected, tough-minded, financially knowledgable leadership in place. It'd be a tough call but I'd go with the 20plus years of experience here; at least until a recovery is well in place and a newbie can get a handle on things in a much less critical environment. Same goes for Pittsfield. On the job training in this type of environment has proven to be a recipe for disaster historically. Best wishes to both communities.

Well put

[ptr]

Barrett No More wrote:

<quoted text>
I would not agree with you, and history doesn't bear you out. We change presidents every 4 years, sometimes 8. The new blood and administrations have typically been more successful than the old when the new presidents lask beltway experience.
With an eroding tax base, the city doesn't need to stay on the same path. It needs to take an off ramp to go in a different direction, and Alcombright has the business experience and smarts we need.

Right, because we all know Bush, the self-proclaimed Washington outsider, was so successful. Let's see, we left the Clinton years with the best economy in US history, the lowest unemployment rate ever, and the "new blood" came in and gave us wars we cannot possibly win, the collapse of the housing market tied to unregulated banking and investment corporations and 10% unemployment. Good analogy.

[SpartanODST]

Guy Hawkes wrote:

<quoted text>Perhaps some but not all of the blame can indeed be placed on the Mayor for NOT allowing a sign that indicates that there is a movieplex in the town of North Adams. Duh! Look for a McDonald's and what do you seek ... Big Yellow Arches.
The other blame is to be placed directly to Cinema North. I myself have issued a half dozen or more email complaints and live phone chats with this company and no one ever responded. They just did not care. BTW, why pay $7.00 for 36¢ worth of popcorn?

Clearly, you have zero understanding of how movie theaters make money. They make nothing on ticket sales. Concessions pay about 93% of their bottom line. That's why you pay what you do for popcorn, soda, and candy.

I'll drop a marketing tick on you: who sits his big fat fanny on the MoCA board? John Barrett. Are you telling me that the city couldn't pony up, working with merchants, a respectable brochure, available at the museum lobby or handed out with a ticket sale, mapping out where to go, and what to do downtown?

I have a MoCA membership, and 2 others with Boston Museums. In Boston, I get not only exhibit highlights, but city highlights upon entry.

THAT'S what a Mayor who sits on every friggin' board, maintaining his personal agenda, SHOULD be doing.

[ok brian]

SpartanODST wrote:

<quoted text>
Clearly, you have zero understanding of how movie theaters make money. They make nothing on ticket sales. Concessions pay about 93% of their bottom line. That's why you pay what you do for popcorn, soda, and candy.
I'll drop a marketing tick on you: who sits his big fat fanny on the MoCA board? John Barrett. Are you telling me that the city couldn't pony up, working with merchants, a respectable brochure, available at the museum lobby or handed out with a ticket sale, mapping out where to go, and what to do downtown?
I have a MoCA membership, and 2 others with Boston Museums. In Boston, I get not only exhibit highlights, but city highlights upon entry.
THAT'S what a Mayor who sits on every friggin' board, maintaining his personal agenda, SHOULD be doing.

Time to get back to dick's website. You are starting to rant and rave

[barrett kills business]

Another business that our mayor shuts down. Where are the permits we need to open our Lowes. Nice shopping center we have on our way to Adams.

[quit your bitchen]

barrett kills business wrote:

Another business that our mayor shuts down. Where are the permits we need to open our Lowes. Nice shopping center we have on our way to Adams.

And how did the Mayor shut down this business? You're a nitwit.