MOVIES BIJOU SAN ANTONIO TX MOVIE
The industry was still a couple of decades away from watching a studio and a platform such as HBO Max or Disney+ cut a deal to release a movie on a streaming service the same day as its theatrical release.
Today, you can catch the film with a subscription to Amazon Prime. At that time, going to the Bijou was the only option for a young cinephile to see the critically acclaimed, coming-of-age drama before it ended up on VHS months later. The first film I ever saw at the Bijou was the Academy Award-nominated 2001 Mexican film Y tu mamá también by director and co-writer Alfonso Cuarón. But understanding the nature of that change doesn't make the Bijou's closure any easier for local cinema buffs. shores in early 2020, it was evident that the way audiences were watching movies had changed amid the boom in streaming platforms. Theater owner Santikos didn't respond to the Current's request for comment, but Andrew Brooks, executive director of sales and marketing for the Alamo City-based chain, told KSAT News a "changing dynamic of art films and our lease coming up for renewal" prompted the closure.Įven before the COVID-19 pandemic reached U.S. The Bijou, located in the Wonderland of the Americas mall, shut its doors early this month, ending the 35-year stretch during which it served as San Antonio's primary arthouse cinema.
MOVIES BIJOU SAN ANTONIO TX FULL
Read the full story on San Antonio Business Journal.The Bijou is located inside Wonderland of the Americas mall. “There are some other prospects,” de Leon said, noting that those talks are ongoing.Įditor’s note: This story was published through a partnership between KSAT and the San Antonio Business Journal. The city’s mayor says there is interest in the theater site. That deal was inspired in large part by the city’s interest in helping ensure a viable future for one of its more important properties. In November, Balcones Heights purchased a nearly 46% ownership stake in Wonderland, a deal it had pursued for several months with the mall’s major stakeholder group, led by managing partner Sid Weiss. That venue eventually closed as the mall later added the larger, multiscreen theater acquired by Santikos nearly two decades ago. The mall has had a movie presence since the 1960s when it was home to Wonderland Theater. It wasn’t financially sustainable, Handren said. Santikos tried to fill in the gap with other first-run movies. “We had a lease renewal coming up,” Handren said, noting that theaters reliant on art films especially are having a tougher time post-pandemic. Santikos CEO Tim Handren said a dearth of new films that fit the Bijou’s arthouse niche didn’t help. Multiple factors likely contributed to the decline, including the pandemic and the challenge malls have faced even before COVID-19 in attracting customers. Santikos saw its business shrink at Bijou. “We did know that that was their plan,” Balcones Heights Mayor Suzanne de Leon said. Balcones Heights officials, however, were bracing for the closure.Īnd while Santikos’ exit is a loss for the city, its leaders are already pursuing potential new uses for one of the landmark anchors of the more-than-60-year-old Wonderland of the Americas mall. SAN ANTONIO – Moviegoers were caught by surprise this week when Santikos Entertainment posted a note on Bijou Cinema Bistro’s front door indicating the company planned to shutter the movie theater.
0 kommentar(er)
