Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: District Theatres

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Posted by Jason McMillan (Member # 5542) on 05-11-2017, 01:47 PM:

Has anyone heard of "District Theatres"? I can't find any information on them doing a Google Search.

This is an old General Cinema 6-plex that they have their signage on.

Much appreciated.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 05-11-2017, 05:19 PM:

I found this:

District Theatres

Not that it's helpful at the moment.

Posted by Donnacha Kenny (Member # 6371) on 06-13-2017, 11:57 AM:

District Theatres is a new boutique branch of Star Cinema Grill, apart from the look and feel of the main brand, but still with the food & drink, reserved seats, full bar and so on. SCG has this and three more locations opening in Texas this year.

Posted by Mike Rivest (Member # 5500) on 06-20-2017, 04:51 PM:

There was an old theatre chain called District theatres in the Washington, DC area. 14 theatres.

Posted by Jason McMillan (Member # 5542) on 06-20-2017, 09:31 PM:

quote: Donnacha Kenny
District Theatres is a new boutique branch of Star Cinema Grill, apart from the look and feel of the main brand, but still with the food & drink, reserved seats, full bar and so on.

That is very interesting. I had suspected that this was Star Cinema going back into the old location they left to build the 10-plex at Baybrook Mall. Interesting that they'll have that many more screens to compete with Cinemark's Webster location.

Posted by Andrew Thomas (Member # 7000) on 06-27-2017, 03:06 AM:

When I saw the photo, I was thinking that was Star's old Webster location. Interesting that Omar is going in with a new concept there. I'm curious if he will be playing the same product, or maybe going more indie? Houston is really an indie dessert. River Oaks is about your only option for most small runs.

Posted by Jarod Reddig (Member # 6363) on 06-27-2017, 02:34 PM:

Really disliking how so many theaters are turning into reserved seating theaters. EVERY...SINGLE....RESERVED seat theater ive visited involved either patrons already being in our assigned seats or people claiming we are in their assigned seats only to be proved wrong. Or you go to choose your seat when paying and there will be dozens of seats to choose from except each availlable seat are only singles, doted all over the theater so my wife and I could't set together. Does anyone else feel the same way I do?

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 06-27-2017, 03:43 PM:

I don't do reserved seating, but on the rare occasions when my theatre is getting over about 80% full I start telling people that there are seats left, but there may not be any seats together. Some people leave and others say "That's fine it doesn't matter" and purchase their ticket.

About 25% of the "that's fine" people come back five minutes later and say "We can't find seats together so we want our money back."

[Confused]

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 06-29-2017, 04:50 AM:

Regarding reserved seating:

I only go to theatres that have it now. Get my tickets online and don't have to hurry to get to the theatre.

Posted by Jason McMillan (Member # 5542) on 06-29-2017, 11:05 AM:

quote: Dennis Benjamin
I only go to theatres that have it now. Get my tickets online and don't have to hurry to get to the theatre.

I second this. Plus a local theatre I go to will let my place my concession order online with my ticket purchase and they'll bring it to my seat as well. Skip all the lines!

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-30-2017, 10:44 AM:

Overall I still dislike reserved seating.

Visiting a reserved seating theater pretty much requires you to buy your tickets online in advance if you want a good seat and/or are buying 2 or more tickets and want to sit together. Buying online adds another buck or more of surcharges to a ticket price that is already probably pretty damned expensive on its own.

Buying a reserved seat is no guarantee your seat will be open when you get to the theater. Like Jarod said, very often some ignorant asshole will be in your seat and you have to confront him about it. Sometimes they move without any trouble. Other times you'll have to get a manager involved while others in the theater give you the vibe, "why don't you just sit somewhere else and let the asshole have your seat?" In order to prevent that needless bullshit you're still stuck needing to get to the theater early to keep idiots out of your reserved seats.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-30-2017, 12:58 PM:

I guess that's another advantage of the small-town single screen theater....we do get the occasional sellout, but by and large if you get to our boxoffice before the showtime, you'll get a seat. If you get there 10 or 15 minutes early you'll probably get the exact seats you want.

We follow the same strategy as Frank...we have 194 seats, and once we get to about 140 we have a "Mostly single seats available" sign we put up at the boxoffice.

The first time we were at a reserved-seat theater, we got to our auditorium to find we were the only two people in for that show! We still sat in our assigned seats though, since they were literally the best in the house.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 06-30-2017, 03:27 PM:

Having never bothered with reserved seating I've got a question: How do they deal with the wheelchair seats? I could, I imagine, reserve one in advance and they wouldn't know I don't have a wheelchair unless they somehow overbook wheelchairs for that show. Would they kick me out of the wheelchair seat even though they sold me a ticket for it? Or would they tell the person with the wheel chair they are out of seats (assuming they were)?
Or, do they just not pre sell wheel chair seats, leaving them open for we non reserving late arrivers who like the extra space and legroom?

Posted by Travis Cape (Member # 466) on 06-30-2017, 08:27 PM:

I go to reserved seating theaters often. At the time I started going, I signed up for the AMC app and the convenience fee is waived.

I am not praising AMC, but in my area, it's them or Wehrenberg now Marcus. The AMC location that was renovated with recliners is an old theater. The conversion has made parking a breeze. The price increase has also helped to dissuade the trailer park and hood crowd.

I love buying my tickets from my phone and showing the ticket taker the code and hopping in the AMC premiere line.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 06-30-2017, 09:27 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Buying online adds another buck or more of surcharges to a ticket price that is already probably pretty damned expensive on its own

The theatre that I normally go to has no extra charge on their online ticketing. I have found mostly that only the big chains are charging and arm and a leg for their tickets.

quote: Martin McCaffery
How do they deal with the wheelchair seats? I could, I imagine, reserve one in advance and they wouldn't know I don't have a wheelchair unless they somehow overbook wheelchairs for that show

At our locations,there are handicap companion seats and spaces that can only be sold to a customer in person at the theatre box office.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 07-01-2017, 08:01 AM:

quote: Dennis Benjamin
At our locations,there are handicap companion seats and spaces that can only be sold to a customer in person at the theatre box office.

Well, that makes sense. Although I could picture a complaint about not being able to buy in advance. I wonder if the bigger chains have thought of instituting handicap club cards or other pre-registration? Why not? They data mine everything else.

Posted by Geoff Jones (Member # 3668) on 07-01-2017, 10:37 AM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Overall I still dislike reserved seating.

Visiting a reserved seating theater pretty much requires you to buy your tickets online in advance if you want a good seat and/or are buying 2 or more tickets and want to sit together. Buying online adds another buck or more of surcharges to a ticket price that is already probably pretty damned expensive on its own.

Buying a reserved seat is no guarantee your seat will be open when you get to the theater. Like Jarod said, very often some ignorant asshole will be in your seat and you have to confront him about it. Sometimes they move without any trouble. Other times you'll have to get a manager involved while others in the theater give you the vibe, "why don't you just sit somewhere else and let the asshole have your seat?" In order to prevent that needless bullshit you're still stuck needing to get to the theater early to keep idiots out of your reserved seats.

I echo these complaints, and add one more: It's impossible to tell from online seating charts how close the seats are to the screen and what the sight-lines are like. It's sometimes impossible to even know which seats are in the center of the auditorium because of the way the charts are skewed. But when everyone reserves seats online before the show, you're stuck. You can't get there early and decide that you want to sit somewhere different because it's likely booked.

The only theater I've seen to get this right is the Seattle Cinerama . Their seating chart is laid out fairly accurately and their "Virtual Tour " gives you a pretty good perspective of what the view will be like from each seat (including mine - C14/C15 [Wink]

)

Geoff

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 07-10-2017, 11:21 AM:

Back to the original reason for the post:

ARTICLE LINK

Houston's Bay Area residents have a new dine-in movie theater at a familiar spot.

When the old Star Cinema Grill location at 1020 W. NASA Parkway in Webster moved to Baybrook Mall, it left the former space vacant. Friday, owner Omar Khan debuted Distrct Theatre there, in a polished, revamped space.

District Theatre is a six-screen movie theater that doubles as a chef-driven restaurant with scratch-made fare, according to Star Cinema Grill vice president of development Jason Ostrow. While it's under the large Star Cinema Grill chain umbrella, it's defined as a more "traditional movie theater experience" with "enhanced food and beverage offerings."

Star Cinema Grill originally put down roots at the Webster address in 2004. The launch of District Theatre is the company's return to its original locale.

"We are extremely excited to bring a new and unique movie going experience back to Webster where it all began," Ostrow said. "District Theatres will bring the community the luxury of choice. The choice to avoid the mall traffic and stay close to home. The choice to eat dinner and watch a movie. The choice to let loose a little and enjoy cocktails and a movie."

The new interior has a stylish lobby, leather reclining seats and a full beer and cocktail menu. Among the food menu items are appetizers, desserts and entrees that verge from comfort-food staples to more upscale offerings.

"If you want to have popcorn, candy and a soda just like when you were a kid, we will have all of those at our concession stand," Ostrow said. "Or, if you want to have a grilled shortrib sandwich and a pint of craft beer because you aren't a kid anymore, we have 18 taps and a full kitchen."

District Theatre and the Star Cinema Grill which is now near Baybroook Mall are similar when it comes to the type of movies they show: a tightly edited selection of new releases. Although the crowd may be different, since many mall-goers tend to skew younger than the former Star Cinema Grill might attract.

The owners say they're just happy to have the former space open again.

"More than a year ago, this vision started on a white board in our office, and has blossomed into something very special," Ostrow said. "From the food, to the atmosphere to wonderful staff and management team we have assembled, we couldn't be more proud and excited to share this product with our neighbors."

Star Cinema Grill is slated for expansion. Late last year it was announced that the luxury movie company bought out the Vintage Park location of Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse, near the intersection of Texas 249 and Louetta Road.

The Star Cinema Grill spokesperson said on the chain's website that more Houston-area locations are forthcoming.