Panhandle town mourns loss of its movie theater
PLAINVIEW — Folks in Hale County are left with one less entertainment option after Plainview’s Cinemark Town Centre Cinema 6 movie theater held its final screening and suddenly closed its doors for good.
Though rumors had circulated around town for about a week, Cinemark did not publicly announce the closure before permanently locking the doors to the town’s only movie theater Thursday night.
The Avalanche-Journal called the theater to gather more information about the closure.
“Believe me, I would like to have a little more information myself,” said an employee, who answered the phone Thursday but asked not to be named. “All I know is that they told us today’s our last day of business and then we’re clearing everything out over the next couple of weeks.”
Details are still sparse about why the company closed the theater. Cinemark’s corporate office did not respond to media requests for comment ahead of the closure, but it did send a statement Friday.
“Cinemark can confirm it has permanently closed its Town Centre Cinema 6 theater following the conclusion of its lease term. This closure is normal course of business and the result of the careful and ongoing review of our theater fleet,” the company said.
Plainview residents flocked to make comments in a community Facebook group and in response to a Plainview Herald post to express their disappointment over the unexpected closure.
“Anytime there’s a new movie (out) my husband and I go to the Cinemark. This really sucks,” Monica Ann Azua commented.
“Survive the Pandemic and killed by Corporate. So sad,” Troy Bollinger added.
“Plainview has less and less for kids to do every year that passes. Bored kids get in to bad things,” Nicole Lara wrote.
Others suggested writing to Cinemark to ask it to reconsider.
“Go to (Cinemark) app and submit a complaint, maybe if enough people complain they’ll reconsider. I filled out my complaint,” Holly Moses wrote.
“Hope there are plans to bring another theater franchise in case Cinemark doesn’t change their minds. Something like Regal or Premiere Cinemas,” Julio Noel Lopez added.