Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cinema Grill Closes After 5 Weeks

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 05-15-2004, 07:34 PM:

This may be some sort of record...closing after only 5 weeks in business.

I thought something suspicious was going on as they never changed their films and suddenly, no newspaper ads.

From the Columbus Dispatch, 5/15/04:

quote:
CINEMA GRILL CLOSES AFTER 5 WEEKS
By Mike Pramik

Its menu offered chicken fingers, but the Cinema Grill movie theater at the Continent ended up laying an egg.

Just five weeks after it opened, the dinner-and-a-movie venue that was expected to bolster the Continent's rebirth has closed. Cinema Grill was the victim of poor execution and even worse planning, say the Continent's developers, who vow to run the theater themselves.

Realty Finance Management will take the summer to regroup and remodel the former Loews theater at 6360 Busch Blvd. It has hired Larry Gardner, a 25-year veteran of AMC Entertainment Inc., to develop a new plan that will again bring first-run movies to the North Side entertainment center.

"It's a first-run movie theater first, and we are going to offer a wider variety of food than what is available in the average movie theater,'' Gardner said. "We think it was a very unfortunate misstep between the Cinema Grill folks and getting this done.

"We want to be absolutely sure we do it right this time.''

David Farnsworth, managing director of Realty Finance, said the theater will reopen in 90 to 120 days after remodeling to improve the layout and seating.

What happened at Cinema Grill?

"What didn't happen?'' said Doug Huff, manager of the Continent.

The concept was established by Jim and John Duffy, owners of Restaurant Entertainment Group in Atlanta. But the brothers, who grew up in Upper Arlington, sold the Continent location to Larry Jones and Dale Obracay. Their company, National Entertainment, was to operate the theater as a Cinema Grill franchise.

The eight-screen theater opened April 8, after Realty Finance spent $1.2 million on its renovation. The project was delayed more than once and opened nine months later than first announced.

Huff said the theater operators had problems from the outset balancing sound and picture, the crew seemed unprepared, and the layout was inefficient.

"The kitchen was in the back of the building, which is the greatest distance to ever have to deliver food to a theater seat,'' Huff said.

The concept was faulty from the beginning, Gardner said, because it reduced seating from 3,000 to 751.

"You cannot turn enough gross to please the (movie) distributors to remain first-run with eight screens and 751 seats,'' Gardner said.

It all led Realty Finance to ask for early termination of the lease it had with Cinema Grill and a Florida company that was to run the theater.

Jim Duffy didn't return calls seeking comment. Executives at Florida-based National Entertainment also were not available for comment.

Plans call for moving the kitchen and a full-service bar to the front of the building, with fast-casual service. Gardner said that moviegoers will be able to purchase food and drinks in the bar and restaurant area and carry it with them into the theaters. There will be no servers inside the theaters.

The remodeling will cause Realty Finance to miss the summer movie season, but Farnsworth said the theater will complement other entertainment venues, apartments and athletic centers that have opened since Realty Finance bought the Continent in 2001.

"The building's there, that's No. 1,'' Farnsworth said. "We did a large amount of work in getting it ready for the last opening.

"We still believe the concept is viable.''

Larry Gardner was the district manager of AMC for many years in this area. At least he has some experience in the business...

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-15-2004, 08:44 PM:

Hiring theater people won't cut it. They need restaurant managers coupled with a self-managing experienced booth team to make it work. The average corporate multiplex manager doesn't know enough about the booth because it's not his/her primary job to do it right, and they know even less about running a kitchen. This doesn't surprise me in the least bit.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 05-15-2004, 08:52 PM:

After about 2 years, we're still running strong (Farrelli's). Fortunately the owners are restaurant people and serve good food, etc, and everything seems to be moving in the right direction. We're second run shows too.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-15-2004, 10:19 PM:

"Huff said the theater operators had problems from the outset balancing sound and picture, the crew seemed unprepared, and the layout was inefficient."
_________________________________________________________________

I'd sure like to know what dealer led them down the wrong path!!

Mark

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-15-2004, 10:20 PM:

Nowhere in the article did it say that ANY of that $1.2 million was spent in the booth. My bet is they opened with the same old worn out junk that Loews left behind.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-15-2004, 10:28 PM:

I gotta wonder if they pocked alot of the dough instead of doing what should have been done in the booth. I've reopened older Lowes/Cineplex theatres before and the equipment was not that bad..... Just needed some repairs, modifications, and upgrades.

Mark

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 05-15-2004, 10:50 PM:

I'm willing to bet that there was gross mismanagement of funds, at the very least.
There are several good examples of how the dinner/theater concept can work, and work well, but mysertiously the Cinema Grill folks don't seem to find success.

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 05-15-2004, 11:07 PM:

Just the fact that it was another Restaurant Entertainment Group operation says alot. [Roll Eyes]

REG also went under the name of Entertainment Film Works (EFW--see the thread about them!). Same people running that company who also stiffed many landlords.

[ 05-16-2004, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: Ken Layton ]

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 05-16-2004, 01:28 AM:

if that theater still had the same old equipment still in it, it goes back to the old Mid-states days in the 70's. Cinema Grill had a twin here locally that was open for less than a year before it closed down.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 05-16-2004, 01:53 AM:

REG - Restaurant Entertainment Group
REG - Regal Entertainment Group

Anyways....

I assisted is opening a Cinema Grill about 5 years ago. The fact that it was a franchise was the biggest pain. Also, we did not run 1st run product there. In the right town, under the right circumstances, with the right balance of theatre people and restaurant people - it can be done AND make a profit.

Posted by Josh Kirkhart (Member # 1046) on 05-16-2004, 01:18 PM:

While I'm not a big fan of this premise, 'restraunt and theatres' it does seem to work. The Alamo Drafthouse has expanded rapidly over over the past two years, and began franchising a year ago. They have opened in two older REG sites in austin in addition to thier 'attic' location downtown, and are planning another by the begining of next year. They have expanded to Houston, San Antonio and are actually building from the ground up in San Marcus later this year. While the seating renovations cut thier possible attendance in half and don't open till 4pm on most days, they sell food hand over fist.
I have to assume the film companies take 99% or all of the gross to make up for lost shows and in a competitive zone are paying out the wazoo for certain runs, but the Austin enviroment loves 'em. Like I said, I don't like em, I think they are overlit, don't like waiters walking around all the time and definatly dont like smelling all the food, but evidently its just me in that boat. Although when the lease is up and the new theatre is open its said the downtown 'attic' will be demolished, really don't like that building. All this being said, I have seen the booths and while they may not be the best in town, they do have ok presentation, and offer lots of repratory titles, to keep it quirky and appealing to the 'Keep Austin Wierd' people.

Anyway this was all just a rant on these style of restraunts, to each there own.

Posted by Scott Jentsch (Member # 1681) on 05-17-2004, 10:46 AM:

quote: Ken Layton
Just the fact that it was another Restaurant Entertainment Group operation says alot.

As someone who was stiffed by REG/EFW, it certainly does to me. Any Cinema Grill operation that wants to do business with me in the future will be paying in advance...

Posted by Jeff Stuckey (Member # 1718) on 05-18-2004, 12:23 PM:

It's my understanding that the CINEMA GRILL will open two locations in Tulsa, OK in the coming year. They will open [completely destroy anything left of the good theatre that was there] at the Eton Square 6 and Woodland Hills locations. Which sucks bad because the Woodland is the only theater left here in Oklahoma with the old GCC 'C I N E M A' lettering over it. Maybe I should write to them and ask if I can have it, since they will trash it anyway.

Anyone want to take bets on how long these two operations will last? Both theaters closed initially because the competetion in that part of town became way too great. And by looking at the Cinema Grill's website, they are second run?? That will be great considering there is already an 8-screen second run house right across the street from Woodland Hills (Movies 8).

Should be interesting.

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 05-18-2004, 06:21 PM:

Here in Saginaw, MI we had an enterprise called "Cinema and Suds". It was a two screen restaurant bar combination which also showed movies. They were second run and only ran late afternoon, evening and late evening shows. Each screen had about 100 seats at little bars with stools and chairs around small tables which faced the screens.

When the building was ready for the equipment, they discovered that the screens were flat to the outside walls. So they had to cut holes in the brick walls and make boxes outside for the three screen channel speakers. The building looked a little funny with those six boxes poking out of the wall.

We only went there once. It was very noisy. The later it got the greater the noise. It seemed that everyone had already seen the film as there was little attention paid to the screen.

The menu was sandwiches, nachoes, pizza and, of course, alcoholic beverages galore. When the business was no longer a novelty and attendance dropped off, they tried making the theatres into meeting rooms with video projection. That didn't last as there are only so many business meetings with Power Point shows in any one year.

The building became the headquarters for an internet company and then was sold and enlarged for other offices.

The location was great, just across the street from a shopping mall and kitty corner from where Kerasotes later built and still operates a 10 plex, Fashion Square Cinema.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 05-18-2004, 07:18 PM:

Kenneth,

Interesting that you mention the speakers sticking out of the back of the theatre. The center channel speakers in the original 4 rooms at the Continent also were in enclosures that protruded from the back of the theatre.

The Continent was a mid-70's Mid-States house, as Daryl noted. It is one of the legendary Mid-States theatres that had the projectors sitting open in the lobby. They finally built enclosures for them in the later years when Loews/Sony took over.

I never saw a screening there without a problem. BUT, they had magic bookers who always got the latest/greatest films, and 70mm prints whenever they were available.

I knew someone who had 3 cinema/grill type houses locally, and he was very clear about being in the food business, not the film business. If the food wasn't good, people would NOT come for the films.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-18-2004, 07:45 PM:

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
Plans call for moving the kitchen and a full-service bar to the front of the building, with fast-casual service. Gardner said that moviegoers will be able to purchase food and drinks in the bar and restaurant area and carry it with them into the theaters. There will be no servers inside the theaters.

This is part of their plan for an overhaul? Sounds like a bad idea to me: customers trying to carry orders of food into a darkened auditorium. Overall, it sounds like the revamp concept has a "fast food" thing going on. I think you need the professional restaurant crew and servers crew on as well. For one thing, customer tips will bring about better earnings for the employees and allow the theater to have better quality employees on staff. Good luck on keeping things dependable if everyone makes minimum wage!

I get the feeling the Cinema Grill guys didn't do very much research on doing what works. Or more likely, they thought they could cut lots of corners, charge the same amount of money and get rich.

The limited menu reminds me of the failed Barry's Chicken Ranch restaurant chain here in Oklahoma. Former Oklahoma University (and Dallas Cowboys) football coach, Barry Switzer lent his name to this enterprise. I guess the people involved thought Barry's name would be enough. The menu was puny! The food was bland. I could get better fried chicken at the Taco Bell/KFC near my work!

Brad is right about what works and doesn't work for movie dinner grilles. You need BOTH an experienced restaurant staff and an experienced booth staff. You have to do BOTH things right. It just sounds like the Cinema Grill watered itself down and didn't do either right.

quote: Jeff Stuckey
They will open [completely destroy anything left of the good theatre that was there] at the Eton Square 6 and Woodland Hills locations. Which sucks bad because the Woodland is the only theater left here in Oklahoma with the old GCC 'C I N E M A' lettering over it. Maybe I should write to them and ask if I can have it, since they will trash it anyway.

How far are they along on the remodeling project? You might try calling around at a few Tulsa-based sign companies to see who is doing the old sign removal and new sign installation.

It is very likely they would take the old GCC C I N E M A channel letters to their "boneyard" and perhaps destroy them, either immediately or at a later date. As expensive as aluminum and steel is getting, the letters may have some decent recycling value.

On rare occaisions our sign company has given away old dismantled sign products ordinary citizens. Goodyear had us take down an old blue flex face sign. An ordinary citizen called us up and took the faces to put in his car garage. I guess that's better than carting them to the dump. We did have to run it by some folks at Goodyear to get their OK. Very often though, we have to destroy old signs and send photos of the destruction back to the company. Most companies require to ensure the dismantled signs cannot be reused for any commercial purpose. In the case of General Cinema, they've been gone from Oklahoma for years. So you might have a chance on snagging those letters --at least unless the Cinema Grill people have designs on trying to reuse them some how.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 05-18-2004, 08:01 PM:

that would be funny. all they need is an "i" and an "l". i haven't changed the marquee for a couple years, but i've still got the skills.

carl

Posted by Jeff Stuckey (Member # 1718) on 05-20-2004, 02:03 PM:

Thanks for the advice Bobby. I will send them a letter and see what can be done. The only bad part would be hauling them off, but it would be worth it. I am such a General Cinema geek. I even bought an old GCC polo shirt on Ebay. Of course, I am the only one that really gets a kick out of it. My wife thinks I am nuts. [Smile]

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-20-2004, 02:49 PM:

Instead of sending letters, I would try giving them a phone call (both the movie theater company and sign companies). If business is hopping in Tulsa the way it is here, I'm sure most sign companies up there are very busy and may "drop the ball" when it comes to responding to letters. They might read the letter then say to themselves, "I'll write back later," and then wind up forgetting about it.

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 05-20-2004, 03:11 PM:

Jeff,

If it is infact a Cinema Grill, (as in associated with Restaurant Entertainmeng Group)then you can count on them leaving the old GCC signage in place. If you want to see their operations after a year of being open, come visit the former Cinema Grill Cafe in Carrollton, TX.

If you want know how they operated, talk to their landlords, talk to the vendors that worked with them. I'm almost sure you'll get a clear picture of what type of company that they run.