Garrettsville – It’s official. “Please be advised TBE Theatres Inc. closed the Garrettsville Cinemas effective Sunday, January 5, 2014. We thank you for your assistance and cooperation through the years.” This statement arrived in an email to The Villager from Ted Bare Enterprises/TBE Theatres in Bath on January 7.
Blank marquees now mark the spots where currently running movies should be advertised at the front of the theatre in Garfield Plaza at 8009 State Street. This plaza has had its difficulties ever since anchor Giant Eagle closed shop in 2008. New tenant Save-A-Lot finally revived activity there in 2012. Meanwhile, Garrettsville Cinema saw a slump in ticket sales, some say due to competition from big multiplexes in Aurora and surrounding communities; others say due to a reduction of foot traffic at the plaza and poor upkeep at the old cinema.
While calls to Ted Bare of TBE Theatres went unanswered on Monday, building owner Rich Wanders (who also owns the Save-A-Lot building next door and is treasurer for Charles Auto in the same plaza) assured The Villager that efforts are currently under way to secure new tenants to maintain operations at the hometown triplex which was known for friendly ticket prices and concessions for blockbuster matinees and night shows.
In fact, the final review on Garrettsville Cinema’s Google+ page gave the now-defunct theatre a five-star rating just two weeks ago, appreciating the $5 ticket prices and commenting, “We had not been to this theater in over 20 years, (had lived out of state all that time) and were so pleased to find it still open when we moved back to the area! There are three theaters, and each are small, but we like that.”
Time will tell if and when this beloved old theater can be revived under new management and continue to bring the big screen to this small town.
