Showplace Theater closes permanently
Days of catching a movie for 50 cents or a dollar a thing of the past, owner confirms.
Walking down to the Square to catch a movie for a dollar is now a thing of the past.
Showplace Theater at 321 North LBJ Drive has permanently closed. Mitchell Roberts, principal investor of EVO Entertainment and former owner of Showplace, said in a press release that despite years of effort to maintain the theater as a discounted movie house, the company could no longer sustain itself. Roberts said he was sad to see Showplace go because it was an “iconic venue” in San Marcos that held “sentimental value” to himself, his family and EVO. The company still owns the space and is looking for alternative uses for it.
The news disappointed patrons and neighboring business owners alike. Rio Rodriguez, who owns the nearby San Marvelous clothing store, said he liked having the option of seeing a movie after work. But he noticed the theater’s business had been declining.
“I feel like they didn’t do that great of a job at marketing their business,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like if more people had known that they had 50-cent movies on certain nights, then they would have seen more people.”
Julia Hartman, a Texas State University student, said she enjoyed Tuesday nights, when tickets were 50 cents.
“I remember thinking it was so awesome to be able to see ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ for just 50 cents before it came out to home video,” Hartman said.