UPDATE: JULY 19, 2021 — A month after eagle-eyed Twitter users noticed that a new property had materialized on AMC Theatres’ list of Los Angeles locations, the cinema megachain officially announced Monday that it’s reached a lease agreement to reopen the multiplexes at the Grove and the Americana at Brand. The theaters—both set at Caruso malls—were previously operated by Pacific Theatres, which shuttered all its theaters in April, and are expected to relaunch in August.
“Even with the advancement of technology bringing content to us in the comfort of our homes, going to the movies remains an important part of our lives because nothing can ever replace the shared experience of being in a movie theater,” mall developer Rick Caruso said in a statement.
According to Variety, AMC is in discussions with other property owners about other currently closed locations. There’s still no word on who’ll take over the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.
JUNE 15, 2021 — The movie theaters at the Grove and the Americana could soon be back in business. According the Hollywood Reporter, sources say megaplex megachain AMC Theatres is “nearing a deal” to take over the Caruso mall-set cinemas, both of which are were operated by Pacific Theatres before that chain went kaput in April.
Earlier today, an eagle-eyed Twitter user noticed that AMC Theatres seemed to have a new property on its map of local locations, but AMC hasn’t confirmed a sale.
News for LA friends: it looks like AMC has bought the old Pacific Theaters location at The Grove that closed in the pandemic! pic.twitter.com/iJPSENt11w
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) June 15, 2021
Pacific Theatres’ affiliate chain ArcLight also announced in April that it was ceasing operations, but there’s still no word on what will become of the Hollywood ArcLight or the Cineramadome. As THR points out, that sale could be a lot more complicated because the land under the Dome is owned by Decurion Corp., the company that constructed the landmark in 1963.
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