Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
September 8, 2016 11:57 a.m.
Amelia Island movie fans, take heart: by the end of the year—possibly as early as Thanksgiving weekend—there will once more be a local movie theater at the site of the former Island Cinema 7 site on 14th Street.Benjamin Morrison of Cotner Associates, Inc. presented plans to the city’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) for comment at the September 8th TRC meeting. It appears that the project for the new movie house will move forward smoothly—and quickly.
The theatre will be part of the B&B Theatres chain. Not to be confused with lodging establishments, B&B stands for Bills and Bagby, the two families that joined forces to form what has become the 9th largest movie theater chain in America with 50 movie houses and more than 400 screens in 9 states.
For more information on the chain, visit their website www.bbtheatres.com.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
I’m still angry at the way, The old Theater, closed and slipped out of town in the middle of the Night. I’ve not been to their New Movie House in Yulee. Looking forward to having a Theater in town were our Community Children can walk or ride their Bikes for Matinee Movies. We are looking forward to Enjoying First Run Movies on our Island Again.
Great to see the movie theater opening again. With AMC purchasing Carmike earlier this year, the competition will be good against the Yulee theater and hopefully will hold down ticket and concession prices. Now it will be up to the community to support the theater so they stay in business.
Great news. Now – if we could only get the bowling alley and skating rink back.
This is such GREAT news!
B&B Theatres is committed to making this revitalized complex a facility that will offer a tremendous boost to the quality of life for those of us who call Amelia Island home. The Theatres will feature top-of-the-line luxury reclining seating, all new state-of-the-art projection and sound systems, and of course the best part… wine and beer. They, along with the ownership of the Eight Flags Shopping Center, are truly making a sizable investment in our community that we should all be excited about!
This is wonderful news!
Please NO BEER & WINE! Hard enough watching movies with cell phones going off. Last thing we need are some drunks talking too loud during moving. Can’t people wait 90 minutes and get a drink after the movie? Seriously?
I agree. Why is alcohol considered “the best part” of going to a movie?
Considering the price they will charge for a single glass of wine or a beer, movies are NOT the place where someone goes to get drunk. Some of us need a sip of wine to put up with people who jump to conclusions about anything that doesn’t fit their view of the world. And I’ll glad stay off your lawn.
This is such great news!! We will be frequent patrons for sure.
Hooray!! Now if the new movie house can offer some intelligent and worthwhile films we are golden!! I have been so disappointed in the offerings by Carmike, I resort to Netflix all of the time . . .
I agree. All we get are what are pushed to us by big Hollywood production companies.
So glad and grateful. I’ve only been to the Yulee theater once. I will be a frequent patron of the new theater for sure.
GREAT News! We will definitely support this.
This is the very best news in a very long time!! Most of us hated to see the “old” theater go and the way they left was so wrong. I am hoping that this is the first of many of the “old” places coming back….after all, we are building homes everywhere we can on the island, so why not have the amenities back that were once here for everyone to enjoy!!
Amelia Island residents love the arts. B&B is wise to think about the possibilities here. It has the potential to be a gathering place if the films are thought-filled, indie, and artfully created.
Right on, Donna!!
Wonderful news!! Love seeing good movies w/ a nice glass of wine……