As movie cinemas across Vancouver Island continue to reopen as the province navigates Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Restart Plan, one local venue has opted to close its doors for good.
Landmark Cinemas at University Heights announced Friday that it is permanently closing its doors.
When trying to access the movie theatre’s website, users are greeted with a message that reads: “Landmark Cinemas is no longer operating this location. We’d like to thank you for your patronage over the years.”
A similar message was posted to Landmark’s Facebook page, adding in the message “Roll Credits.”
With news of the cinema’s closure, avid moviegoers took to social media to reminisce.
Sad day for #yyj cinephiles with the announcement of the permanent closing of the University Heights @LandmarkCinemas.
Between COVID, the proposed redevelopment and bigger theatre competition I can't really say it's a huge surprise.
Lots of memories made there.
FIN.#Saanich pic.twitter.com/aBGGb3T3Zz
— Colin Plant (@ColinPlant2018) July 17, 2020
“Sad day for #yyj cinephiles,” one user wrote in regards to the permanent closure.
University Heights Landmark Theatre is officially done. Was my go-to theatre when I was at UVic (went solo many times, yes, I like doing that). Major development coming. Read about it here: https://t.co/P2Fn787fFL @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/l3yu9jMW2Y
— Joe Perkins (@JoePerkinsCHEK) July 17, 2020
CHEK’s own Joe Perkins shared his fond memories of attending the theatre solo when he was a student at the University of Victoria.
I sat and watched all three Lord of the Rings movies there… in those seats. I also watched Apollo 13 there when visiting with my parents as a kid. I drank too much pop and had to go to the restroom, missing the entire explosion. Good memories.
— Brian Cant (@brianinvictoria) July 17, 2020
In response to Perkins’ message, another user shared a story of drinking too much pop and missing a large chunk of Apollo 13 – capping the tweet with “Good memories.”
Missing my local cinema… it's gone, never to return it seems… https://t.co/3DG807vgmW @LandmarkCinemas
— martin_fff (@martin_fff) July 17, 2020
Earlier this summer, a proposal from Vancouver-based development company Wesbild, presented a vision of hundreds of rental units being built on the current University Heights complex.
It is unclear at this time if development played a role in the movie theatre’s decision to shut down.
CHEK News has reached out to Landmark Cinemas for comment and is awaiting a response.
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Graham Cox
