Employees: Studio 28 Closing
November 13th, 2008 at 7:47 pm by Laff at the Movies under Entertainment
UPDATED AGAIN AT 10:16pm:
Sounds official now… employees were notified at a meeting tonight that Studio 28 will be closing Monday, November 24th… BUT they were also told that nobody will be losing their jobs… and they’ll move to other theaters in the company.
TWO LAST BIG WEEKENDS:
It makes sense for Studio 28 to wait to close and stay open for two more weekends.. because 2 of the most anticipated movies of the season and biggest moneymakers will be hitting theaters… first, this weekend is the latest James Bond movie – “Quantum of Solace”, which as a franchise is historically ressession and critic-proof… its currently tracking to make around $50 million across the country.
Then, the last weekend would be the premieres of “Twilight” and “Bolt”.
Disney’s “Bolt” is an animated family movie that will pull in a big audience and “Twilight” can be considered the next “Harry Potter” phenomenon… a book, turned highly anticipated movie for tweens that is already selling out its midnight shows.
So those 2 weekends should be big for all theaters and could mean a last influx of money for Studio 28… as movie goe-ers catch one last movie at the historic Studio 28.
UPDATED AGAIN AT 8:36pm:
While the rumors continue to swirl around Studio 28’s future in this economy, tonight, we’re learning about a press conference scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10:30am “regarding an announcement about Studio 28″.
And while there aren’t any further details in the press release, I have learned that Studio 28 is planning normal business FOR THE WEEKEND(November 14-16).
This news comes two weeks to the day we learned that Studio 28 would be cutting back on matinees… and that’s after I started making calls on rumors that theater was closing, jobs were being cut, or the property had been sold to Meijer – so far, all of those rumors have been squashed.
We’ll find out more tomorrow morning at 10:30am.
***
ORIGINAL POST 10/29/08:
Studio 28 to cut some matinees
Some changes are coming next for a Grand Rapids movie theater… there are a lot of rumors out there… but here’s what we know at this point:
** Studio 28 will be eliminating some matinees starting Monday, November 3rd **
A spokesperson tells me that’s because “Studio has a centalized location and has had to share its part of the matinee market with the other theaters for a few years now.” Steve VanWagoner says “we do 90 percent of our business at Studio during evening shows”.
So starting next Monday, November 3rd – Studio 28 will begin eliminating two matinees each day Monday through Friday, one matinee on Saturday, and one on Sunday.
But, there is some good news for movie fans: during the week, the shows between 5pm and 6pm will still be considered matinees.
Tags: Laff at the Movies, Studio 28, theater
Aaron Lafferty covers the film industry. Favorite movies include Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Matrix, Clear and Present Danger, Tombstone, Rounders, Enemy of the State, Rear W...
My money is on Meijer. Since the City of GR is fighting them on the 1540 28th SE store, I could see them pulling out of SE GR altogether, move to Studio 28th, perk up the sagging “downtown” business district of Wyoming, and still be close enough for shoppers that used to shop at 28th/Kalamazoo. 29th St access is a perk, along with easy out to Michael Ave. Studio 28 struggles during the week, matinees or no, and has lots of wasted space due to haphazard expansions over the years.
Not sure it makes sense for Meijer to move there since the 54th St. store is 3-4 miles away.
It makes sense for Meijer or some huge mega organization to put something in that spot. Maybe Wal*Mart will take the initiative since they cater to the getto crowd anyway.
Another thought would be to reconfigure the entire complex to house many small businesses something similar to incubators but without the manufacturing aspect. The facility is large enough to house a small sports complex that would support all the area businesses as well as any of the incubators.
Or, Amway/Global could move some of their operations into the complex. Or tear it down and put in another mega hotel.
my cuz works their hes only working 3 days a week,,
I am sad that the theater is closing. I saw my first movie there in 1967. It was Snow White. I took my children there to see there first movie. I will be there for the last movie. Good luck to all those involved with the closing. I think it is great that Mr.Loeks has offered jobs to the employees at his other theaters. It is tough to get a job.
Maybe cinemark or goodrich will buy it.
A sad day for the west MI. area. it is the end of an era. As reported today at 10:30 am Studio 28 movie theater will cease doing business on Nov. 23rd. the entire studio 28 complex has dwindled down from the time when there was a drive in behind the current building. and in front of that was a miniature golf course and a trampoline park. I remember as a kid from the time I was in 5th to 7th grade my friends and I would sit outside the drive in and watch R rated movies during summer vacation. that thought brings back some very fun and good memories. at one time Studio 28 was the largest movie theater in the world. when they expanded to 20 screens. the reasoning given was that due to the size of the Studio 28 complex and the policies requested by the movie companies that have to run all movies at their scheduled time regardless of the number of tickets sold, which means that several times a day they are running all of the theater equipment to an empty theater. this is an industry wide practice, but with 28 screens I can see how that would be quite costly. It is just sad to such icon in the West Michigan area have close its doors due to the economic down fall of the state. and partly by the progress of technology. Even though by personal preference I don’t to see movies at the theater much anymore there still is something to be said for experience of seeing a big block buster film in a large theater with all of the sound and large screen, you just can’t get that at home even with all of the technology we have available to us today.
Just and FYI Goodrich Theater and Radio Company. does not have the finacial resources for such a large indevor, they are bearley keeping their 34 theaters in 4 states going as it is. It is a tough time for all types of entertainment venues. Whatch for Chucky Cheeze Pizza to go next. let alone the entire centerpoint and rivertown malls in thier entirty. may fall to the bankrupcy courts. stay tuned as they say…
Times are changing. Can’t remember how many times I’ve watched movies at S28 and the old drive-in behind it. That in itself has been gone for years. But now days, it’s just easier to stay at home and watch anything you want. I can watch any movie and TV show through my PC on my 62″ Toshiba rear-projection without the hassles. The new crowd of kids are awful anyway to deal with; loud, rude, and just stupid. No respect to other patrons and I bet the liability of patrons these days are a part of closing also. What year did S28 open? Anyone know?
studio 28 opened in 1965
i saw the first three star wars episodes 4 5 6 there as well as other
i grew up on movies from that theatre
I worked at Studio 28 from 1983 to 1988, probably the best years of my young working life. There was well over a hundred employees at that time. After we opened the new 6 screens in ‘84 becoming the first 12 screen theatre, there were many weekends that we would sell out all 12 auditoriums for the evening shows! The huge crowds and long lines it was unbelievable. During the summer, a handfull of empoyees (myself included) would sign up to work at the Beltline, Plainfield or Woodland Drive-Ins during their peak times. I ended my run there working in the boxoffice, again, the best time of my life. So many friendships made, a couple of which I still talk to today. It’s hard to accept thats it’s going to be part of history, kind of sad.