Barnstorm Theatre - Brownwood
 

Hello
Has anyone heard what’s up with this still being closed? Is it a Labor issue or something else, as the Covid thing has since softened greatly and most businesses have resumed mostly usual and customary hours.
Thanks in advance.

The developers in a recent meeting, or one of them, mentioned there was not enough demand to open another theater.

it's a money thing

We went to our second movie 2 weeks ago since the covid shut down. Went to an 11am at the Old Mill in LSL. My wife and I and one other person viewing the movie. It had to be 60* in the theatre. I’d rather stream at home in the comfort of my recliner, and if my thermostat becomes uncontrollable I will have my winter jacket close by. I realize there are still die hard movie goers, but here and nationwide their numbers seem to be severely hurting the profitability of that industry. Possibly another covid casualty.

11 AM is often a very small crowd draw unless it is a blockbuster around it's opening.

First problem, it's 11AM. :) That's like going to a bar at 11AM .... oh wait, disregard that, this is the Villages. :D Second issue would be what movie it was.

That being said, other than when they do $5 tickets and/or it's a rainy day the place is generally not busy except for the first few days of a major release. Even before the Pandemic, we went a couple times late afternoon and there were barely enough people there to fill all the stall in the restrooms if they all went at once. All that plus my TV is big enough to sit 6 feet away and get almost the same experience. The sound isn't quite as good, but good enough.

Do not expect those theaters to ever reopen the only question is when they will be repurposed.

Many people I know miss the theater’s greatly. Me and mine, not so much. It was worth the wait for us to buy the Top Gun movie from some clown in Jersey. It was over a month after the release but somehow we survived!

EXACTLY, it's a business and they are not going to reopen it to lose money. They're in it to make a profit, just like every other business.

The Villages movie theaters cater to a retirement community where people grew up going to movies. This is an unusual setting and the developers have more than enough money to fund three and even more movie theaters. It is also a selling point in their marketing of having a movie theater in every town square.

:BigApplause:

If there was enough demand for movie watching would have already been opened. Most of the time it is pretty much empty so why open two more?

There is a very nice theater in Lake County that is far superior to what is here.

i've been watching the classics over @ the sharon. movies today aren't worth the $$

I don't expect the Rialto Theater to reopen but would be surprised if the Barnstorm didn't as an updared movie venue.

How many apartments can you fit into the Rialto and Barnstorm theater buildings?
Asking for a friend.

Probably will be converted to 8 apartments - each one with a BIG screen TV included.

Skip

But a good distance from most of the Villages that have been here since 2005 or so. And not golf cart accessible.

Again. This is a retirement community and not Tampa, Orlando or some other place. We like old cars, old movies, old music and drive-ins. What is "old " changes though as the birth years of the Villages go up in decades.

There is a big demand for movies in theaters in the Villages. Still.

Sorry Tal. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that there is big demand for theaters, statistics are against you. Trust me. If there was enough of a demand to make the theaters profitable the developer would open them in a heartbeat. As far as marketing them as a perk to sell houses, they don’t need to. They are selling houses nearly as fast as they can build them.

There have been some very big crowds at movie theaters here in the Villages. When we moved here in July of 2005 there was only the Rialto which would sometimes have to turn away people. And that has happened since they added the Old Mill Playhouse at the end of 2005.

Big movies like the Star Wars one attracted very long lines at the Barnstorm when it opened. Small movies targeted at seniors also had very long lines at all theaters.

"Hollywood" took a big hit from COVID in the production of movies and it will take them a while to get up and running even if they make movies in Eastern Europe, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, India, Georgia (USA and Russia), etc.

Sorry, Tal, but I don’t think that is as certain as you make it sound.

Tal, most retirees now love the comfort of their home, their friends, their furniture and their own pauses in the movies they watch, for bathroom breaks.

People can enjoy all those things if they DON’T go to a theater and many have media rooms in their home just for that pleasure. It’s also safer than coming out of a theater in Brownwood in the later hours of the evening.

Movie theaters are passe and it was surprising they built that one in Brownwood. But, as stated earlier, that building will make a great condo or apartment complex.;)

Tal, if it is such a great business to be in then develop a business plan and lease the closed theater in Brownwood with YOUR capital. It amazes me how people will tell the developer how to use their capital. I guarantee you the developer knows exactly how many people go to the theater in Lake Sumter. If there was so much demand and they could make a reasonable profit they would open Brownwood. At least for now in the US, no business is required to lose money on an operation just because some people on the internet feel the need for a specific business to open up.

The developers own the movie theaters.


They do not lease them out.

You can rent these for an evening for parties and the like. Rented Spaces - The Villages Entertainment

People have been voting with their feet to rarely fill up a theater. Wish they would reopen the other theaters but does not seem the demand is there.

My pea-brain tells me that it would have made more sense to have all the movies at Barnstorm rather than Sumter. For two reasons:

Brownwood is more centrally located.

The theaters are generally larger and much better condition.

Makes sense to me. I would believe that politics came into this. Merchants in Sumter perhaps lobbied for this. And perhaps more from Northern populations.

Sumter has Lazy Macs and Savanna and The Sharon is “up there”. I guess the Southern folks simply have to grin a bear it.

Just sayin’. All IMO.

I live near Lake Sumter Landing and I agree with you on all points. Although the Barnstorm theater does not have the latest and greatest seating and really large screens as other theaters not in The Villages, it is a better and newer theater than the Old Mill Playhouse. Barnstorm is certainly more centrally located for those folks who live in the southern villages. It just makes more sense to open Barnstorm and close the LSL theater.

They could keep both open.

It’s not just a problem with the theaters in TV. COVID accelerated the slow demise of the movie industry in general. In order to compete with the high def at home viewing options, theaters are installing IMAX screens and reclining seats that vibrate. This dramatically increases ticket prices and potential viewers only have to wait a couple weeks to stream from home.

I love to watch movies at the theater, but only catch 1-3 blockbusters a year, down from 5-6 in years past.

Regal Owner Cineworld Nears Bankruptcy as Theater Comeback Lags - WSJ

[QUOTE=Dond1959;2137534]Tal, if it is such a great business to be in then develop a business plan and lease the closed theater in Brownwood with YOUR capital. It amazes me how people will tell the developer how to use their capital. I guarantee you the developer knows exactly how many people go to the theater in Lake Sumter. If there was so much demand and they could make a reasonable profit they would open Brownwood. At least for now in the US, no business is required to lose money on an operation just because some people on the internet feel the need for a specific business to open up.[/QUOTE

Lighten up on Tal. Its an interesting thread that doesn't need a lecture

Heck, the Southern folks can go to the AMC theater in Leesburg which is better than any theater in The Villages. It’s closer than LSL and about 5 minutes farther than Brownwood.

That is true.

The "big crowds" were generally at the $5 movie days where they hoped the people would buy popcorn and drinks to cover the expenses or when MoviePass was big.

The "big crowds" were generally for the first couple days or weeks of the "blockbusters" then for the next month or so it was empty. The movie companies require a movie to play for "xx" days even if 1 person shows up. Not many folks were happy paying $9-$11 for a ticket and of course wanted their Villages discount. I'm surprised 1 theater survived which was probably why they added the Mexican fast food to the LSL theater.

They can't make money with $5 movies when in order to get someone to sell popcorn when they have to pay them $14/hr plus all the patrons hiding their outside food under their coats to avoid the ridiculous cost of candy didn't help either. Covid only hastened what was bound to happen sooner rather than later.

The developers sponsor the movie theaters. They are not like the restaurants nearby that survive or fail based on their bottom line.

Another factor is the quality of movies today. Hollywood is creating garbage movies for the most part !!!

AMC at the mall in Leesburg is where a lot of true movie fans go. Much better, up to date, technology, leather recliner seating. And, there are lots of good movies out, and there have been all during the pandemic, contrary to what sone later replies on this thread say. Also, a great place to get out of the house and go walking during bad weather.

AMC at the mall in Leesburg is where a lot of true movie fans go. Much better, up to date, technology, leather recliner seating. And, there are lots of good movies out, and there have been all during the pandemic, contrary to what some later replies on this thread say. Also, a great place to get out of the house and go walking during bad weather.

Back when I was a kid in the big city we were given a very small amount of change on movie night and were told to walk down the street to the candy store and pick up what we wanted for the show. All those candy stores and movie palaces are gone now. Covid, greed, and the internet are a deadly combination for the multiplexes.

I agree. Whatever happened to wanting to go out for an evening? Hopefully the pandemic is coming under control so maybe you are comfortable at home, it gets tiresome to stay there every night. When the TV was invented it was thought nobody would go to movies but nothing beat going out and seeing movies on the big screen!

The Developer owns the movie theaters, but they do not do anything unless it makes a profit. Remember Katie Belle's?

The Villages needs to turn that theatre into a nice sports bar. That would bring in some good revenue.