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Saturday, December 17, 2016

Regal Bethesda closes (Video + photos), For Eyes to move

After closing forever Thursday night, the Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 theater had a farewell message for patrons of its three decades in business. Known better as "UA" by longtimers, for its original United Artists Bethesda brand, the cineplex may be replaced with a new one in the Carr Properties development that will replace the Apex Building at this corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street.

If a deal can't be worked out with Regal or another chain, the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board will be held accountable, as they deliberately chose to not require a replacement theater in their approved Apex Building minor master plan amendment. Permanent loss of a mainstream cineplex would be devastating to downtown Bethesda restaurants.

The fact that the Regal message states, "We'll miss you," is troubling, suggesting they have not yet reached a deal to return. Such a deal should be a no-brainer for both parties, given the traffic that a theater anchor can deliver.








Another Apex tenant, For Eyes, will close at the close of business on Wednesday, December 28. The good news is that they have found a new spot. For Eyes will reopen in late February in the ground floor of 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, walking distance from its current location. Their phone number will remain 301-913-0290.

If you somehow fail to pick up any glasses they have of yours, they will be available during the interim period at the Rockville For Eyes location at 718 Rockville Pike. Their phone number is 301-424-4370.

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16 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:10 AM

    Which restaurants will be "devastated"? Pizzeria Uno has been closed for nearly a decade.

    Most folks going to dinner and a movie in Bethesda, go to Landmark. That theater is actually part of Bethesda Row.

    Get yourself a nice big screen TV, streaming video, a year's supply of microwave popcorn, and stop living in the past.

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    Replies
    1. Robert Dyer9:55 PM

      6:10: Wrong. Not only did Regal far outsell Landmark in tickets sold, but the vast majority of dinner-and-a-movie deals were partnered with Regal, not Landmark.

      Who's living in the past? I'd much rather watch movies in a home theater without the smells, sticky floors, hoodlum patrons, and excessive volume of today's cineplex experience. Alas, dear time traveler, all but the ultra-rich must still go to theaters to watch first-run movies in 2016.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous6:34 AM

    I see this morning's weather is just as pleasant as 6:10AM.

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  3. Anonymous8:02 AM

    7 pictures of the same sign? 2 pictures of the doors?

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  4. Anonymous8:09 AM

    Anyone know how busy regal was when it was still open in the past year? I had not been there recently, so I was just curious.

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  5. Anonymous8:23 AM

    Many people avoid Bethesda Row.

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  6. Anonymous10:12 AM

    If Berliner doesn't ensure another theater for his constituents in Bethesda, it will be a big embarrassment as he (finally) exits the Council. And no, toilet car guy, I'm not talking about a black box theater.

    This is the Berliner legacy. Folks seem to get more and more out of touch the longer they are in power. "I banned plastic bags" isn't exactly tombstone worthy stuff, Roger.

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  7. I remember Gifford's10:13 AM

    I was in shock when Mr. Dyer broke the story about Regal closing last week.
    I'm still getting over losing the Baronet!

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  8. Anonymous11:30 AM

    "And no, toilet car guy, I'm not talking about a black box theater."

    #UnsignedDyer

    #ArgleBargle

    #LOLWut???

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous6:39 PM

    If there is demand for such a theater, then a new one will open.

    If not, then it won't.

    Why doesn't Dyer the communist dictator trust the free market?

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  10. Anonymous8:13 PM

    Mr "night time economy" Reamer should be stepping up to deal with this challenge. Movies are a big part of the night time economy, Mr. Reamer.

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  11. Anonymous4:54 AM

    Also, the landmark theater doesn't show all of the current releases...

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  12. Robert Dyer7:22 AM

    4:54: Exactly.

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  13. Anonymous10:47 AM

    Let's put it this way: you can't see Rogue One in downtown Bethesda today. And that is an embarrassment.

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  14. Anonymous11:54 AM

    Robert, I truly feel sorry for you. It's a shame you have to put him with the childish trolls in your comments area. Don't these people have better things to do than post such silly and infantile comments? Do they get satisfaction bullying a guy who simply provides a free community news service? You are a living example of no good deed goes unpunished.

    I feel the need to tell the trolls to back-off criticizing me for this post. It won't do you any good, as it would take much more than your childish comments to bother me. You'll only create another example of childish behavior on this site.

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  15. Anonymous9:59 PM

    I'm almost certain that Regal will return with the new property, and if not them, another cinema chain will. The location works very well for such a venue.

    I just hope there will be better access for pedestrians at the new building.

    ReplyDelete