Castanet

The Paramount Theatre in Kelowna will show its final movie later this year.

The iconic downtown theatre has a new owner who is expected to repurpose the theatre.

Since an official application has not yet come before the city, planner Terry Barton said he is not able to formally comment.

"It has changed hands so there is a different proponent," said Barton.

"They are looking at doing, call it an adaptive re-use of the theatre, likely to another commercial, likely a restaurant. But, it's just in the inquiry stage at this point so I'm not at liberty to say."

Barton said he will be able to comment once a formal application is made, but doesn't know when that will be.

"It likely would need a form and character development permit which would need to go to council."

He expects to know more within a month or so.

Bill Walker, COO of Landmark Cinemas which runs the Paramount said he wasn't completely surprised at the announcement.

With the shift to newer, larger multiplex theatres, downtown cinemas are not doing as well as they have in the past.

He was pleased the Paramount was able to fill a void in the market by showing more eclectic, Indie type films. He said the company hopes to continue that tradition at the Grand 10 and Extreme 8 in West Kelowna.

Walker doesn't know exactly when the Paramount will close down but expects it to be sooner than the 90 days they were given by the owner.

A special sendoff will be planned.

The Paramount opened in June of 1949 with just one screen. It was later turned into a triplex.

It will be the second downtown movie theatre to shut down.

The Uptown Cinema, around the corner on Water Street shut down in 2000. That theatre, now the Living Faith Miracle Centre, opened with two screens in the mid 1970's.

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-st ... htm#159842

GordonH wrote:Last downtown movie theatre is shutting down, just one more reason to avoid the downtown core. This was the only reason I ever did go downtown core.

Added: curious to know whats going in that owner wants Landmark theatre out.

Bman wrote:They say they're putting a restaurant in there.
Yup. Another downtown restaurant.
Just what we need.
If it doesn't survive they can always put a thrift store in the location. Or a dozen Starbucks. It's big enough.

Evan wrote:The thing I love about the smaller theatres, is they tend to show the smaller films. I recall being able to catch Milk at The Paramount, when no one else in the okanagan would show it.. The theatre beside me (where I live now) is a smaller theatre, and it is the only one that has shown "Brooklyn", and will be showing "Where to Invade Next" soon.

I love that. I love being able to catch artsy, and less mainstream films at these smaller houses. It's a definite loss for Kelowna when it comes to more unique films. Hopefully the Grand 10 can pick up some of the slack.

Jlabute wrote:Replaced by Netflix. The newer theatres are better.