Movieplex closes until further notice
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A message on the marquee of Movieplex 9 in Rutland announces that the theater has closed. Cassandra Hotaling / Rutland Herald |
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By Brent Curtis Staff Writer - Published: October 14, 2009
The end credits were rolled across the marquee of the Movieplex 9 theater in downtown Rutland on Tuesday.
But while the word "closed" stood out starkest against a white backdrop now void of any movie listings, there was the promise of a sequel in the words that followed.
"We hope to see you soon under new management," the marquee read.
The Movieplex's closing coincided with the closings of Cinema North's theaters scattered across three states. At various times in recent years, the Movieplex has been threatened with eviction from the Rutland Shopping Plaza and was temporarily closed by the state Tax Department.
But the latest closing appears to spell an end for Cinema North, which is located in Rutland under the ownership of Kipp Mullin and Gerald Couture III. The company, founded in 1983, has owned the Movieplex since it opened in May 1995.
Newspapers in North Adams, Mass., and Massena, N.Y., reported Tuesday that movie theaters owned by Cinema North had closed within the last few days in those communities as well. The Movieplex in Rutland represents Cinema North's only remaining movie theater in Vermont — the Westway Theater in West Rutland closed last year. Cinema North owns one theater in Massachusetts and eight in New York.
Mullin and Couture could not be reached for comment Tuesday. However, Cinema North did release a brief statement citing financial difficulties for the Rutland Movieplex's closing.
"Due to rising costs, declining admissions and the current economic downturn the company could no longer sustain its operations. Unable to secure financing, Cinema North had no other option but to close the doors at its locations," the statement said.
The company didn't identify who the potential new owners would be, saying only "We are confident that the location will be reopened under new management so that the Rutland area will have a movie theater."
With the Movieplex closed, the closest movie theater to Rutland is in Middlebury or Woodstock — both roughly a 45-minute drive from the city.
While there was no indication from Cinema North about when the theater would reopen, Downtown Rutland Partnership executive director Michael Coppinger predicted the nine-screen theater would return to life soon.
"Our phone was ringing off the hook the last time they closed," Coppinger said referring to a prior eviction process that threatened to close the theater a year ago. "People were interested in it then as they are now as a viable business."
"My heart goes out to the employees over there, but I hope from the ashes a new management team will come in. I can't imagine it staying dark long," he added.
Whoever buys the business will have to settle some of its debts. While the Movieplex is relatively paid up on its utilities — only $82 in arrears — the city Treasurer's Office hasn't received payments from the city's 1 percent rooms, meals and entertainment tax since April. The state Tax Department also placed a $51,972 lien on the movie theater for unpaid sales and use taxes.
The movie theater's closing has also caused an unexpected problem for the state Treasurer's Department, which had planned to screen the documentary "Tricks of the Trade: Outsmarting Investment Fraud" there on Thursday.
An official at the state office said Tuesday that the free screening has been moved to the Paramount Theatre on Center Street, where it will appear at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com
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