AMC Theatres Beats Hasty Retreat From Canada
There are two movie theatre chains of any heft in Winnipeg. They are
Cineplex and
Empire Theatres. Today, it was
learned that big U.S. chain
AMC which had been edging into Canada (and seemed a likely candidate for the
Seasons of Tuxedo on the
Ikea site) has been sold to large large Chinese theatre owned
Panda. The new owners appear to have to no interest in Canada and have sold off all their theatres to Cineplex and Empire.
The only Empire theatre in Winnipeg is at
Grant Park Shopping Mall and had been owned by Cineplex until the Competition Bureau forced them to sell it as part of a merger between
Cineplex Odeon and
Famous Players years ago.
All along
Seasons of Tuxedo has listed a movie theatre complex for future development. Now, with the loss of AMC, it remains to be seen whether
Empire has a desire to build a large complex on the site. I say Empire because Cineplex is converting the
Cinema City McGillivary into a first run movie theatre.
It is obvious that Cineplex didn't want a competitor at the
Ikea site to eat into their movie business. The discount movie idea ends for the south side of the city when this theatre full switches over to new movies only.
Unless.
Unless
Empire remains a candidate. It is the only large movie theatre candidate for a theatre complex at
Seasons of Tuxedo.
Will it happen? Hard to say? A theatre complex is also on the books for west
Portage Avenue near the
Red River Ex site. Will that be more desirable for either company?
Empire has seemed quite content to sit on on their
Grant Park complex.
At the moment, Ikea has all four walls up and the roof almost in place. Not long from now, it will open. It remains to be seen whether the store will ever see a movie theatre as a neighbour.
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