Local news reports that AMC has made an unexpected closure in Ohio, leaving just one movie theater facility in the area.
The Intelligencer reports that the AMC Classic at Ohio Valley Mall has been shut down, which is another little setback for the movie chain.
Only two movie theaters were serving the Ohio Valley community, and this one was at St. Clairsville, which was less than two hours away from Columbus, Ohio.
The theater will not be reopening after Sunday, according to an assistant manager, who did not elaborate.
Many in the area are surprised by the shutdown; one X user even went so far as to say, “Rip AMC Theatres in the Ohio Valley.”
Based on data provided by the Ohio County Public Library, the mall’s initial theater, a Cinemette, debuted in 1980.
The first Carmike Cinemas theater debuted in 1987; in 2016, it changed its name to AMC.
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The US Sun adds that this closure is caused by shifting consumer patterns, as it follows a wider trend of other AMC sites shutting down in recent months around the country.
Theaters have been struggling to stay profitable as a lot of moviegoers have decided to stay home and save money.
Angry customers vented their frustrations on social media after the sudden closure of an AMC theater in El Paso, Texas, last month.
With a nostalgic tone, one patron said, “We’ve been coming here for years since my kids were little, and we still come here now and then.”
Similarly, when a nearby AMC cinema shuttered in March, moviegoers in Delaware voiced their disappointment.
Throughout its history, AMC Theatres has encountered considerable financial difficulties; following the pandemic, the company came dangerously close to insolvency.
Nevertheless, the biggest movie chain in the world is still going strong thanks to investors.
With a debt of around $4.5 billion to pay off, the company’s future in the dynamic entertainment industry is uncertain.
The firm has grown substantially over the years despite its heavy debt load because of its devoted customer base and investors.
