The AMC Mazza Gallerie 7 has closed permanently at 5300 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. in Friendship Heights. It has been frozen in time for almost a year, still displaying the posters of March 2020 film releases. A security guard at the mall confirmed that the theater is now closed permanently. If life ever returns to normal, this is another major blow to the area, as this was the last mainstream cineplex in the immediate downtown Bethesda-ChevyChase area (the Landmark Bethesda Row screens only arthouse films with a few exceptions, such as Wonder Woman).
I'd imagine AMC was just running out its lease. It's the only reason I can think of as to why it was never renovated like most every other location.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all of the recent Oscar winning movies were screened at the Landmark Bethesda Row. Perhaps not all of the comic book inspired superhero movies, but most serious movies are shown there, at least near Oscar season. I would hardly call it an art-house cinema anymore, especially now that Regal and AMC are toast, I would imagine more main-stream films will continue to be featured.
ReplyDeleteYou reported a few years ago that Federal Realty could at some point build over the existing theater, where up to a 250’ tall building is permitted on the triangular site. Now that Federal Realty is proposing to expand Bethesda Row South, I wonder if they are also considering this site. Any tower there would have some nice views overlooking the proposed Capital Crescent Civic Green, and really frame the new park.
On a related note, do you know when the planning efforts to design the Civic Green will begin? Now that the Purple Line Contractors are apparently done using the site temporarily as staging, it would be nice to understand the process and timeline to create the new county park. How can the public be involved in the programming and design process? Are public workshops planned? It really is an eyesore at this point in Bethesda Row. I’m sure that JBG Smith and the folks that live at the Darcy and Flats are all anxious to see this finished as well.
6:47: The problem is that it's the superhero and other tentpole movies that bring the big crowds (pre-pandemic) that patronize the restaurants and shops before and after the movie. With Landmark, you're getting an older, niche audience (which makes for a better viewing experience with less clowns disrupting the film, I will admit). Landmark always has the option to start showing the blockbusters if they want, but hadn't done it despite the vacuum created by the Regal closing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that they are done yet on the Civic Green area - they'll be bringing in heavy rail and other bulky items en masse, and I can't imagine they would do fancy landscaping there while heavy equipment is still coming through for the Purple Line.
Certainly, it will be helpful if Federal Realty and JBG are in on the design process to make the area more compatible with existing and future development there.
Landmark Bethesda Row is already outdated. No leather recliners. AMC Wheaton is better.
ReplyDeleteWho wants to see blockbusters on Bethesda Row's small screens, lackluster sound and old style seats?
If Landmark plans to continue, they should remodel during this extended closure.
Also- unlike your typical mall AMC, Landmark has a large elderly audience. The kind of people excited to see a serious movie like "Mark Felt" and maybe dinner. Those people are most under threat of dying from COVID-19. That could pose problems ever getting back to where they were in ticket sales.