Saskatoon's Rainbow Cinemas to permanently close 2 months early because of COVID-19
Theatre in Centre Mall to never reopen its doors again, owner says
A beloved Saskatoon movie theatre that for years offered a discount alternative to the city's pricier multiplexes is closing for good two months early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rainbow Cinemas in the Centre Mall became famous for its Toonie Tuesdays.
The decades-old theatre was scheduled to close its doors permanently on May 20, as its lease with the mall owners is expiring.
Instead — because temporarily-closed theatres nationwide are faced with an uncertain window of disruption due to the coronavirus — Magic Lantern Theatres, the chain that owns Rainbow Cinemas, has decided to shutter that theatre's operations for good.
"It is likely that that [disruption] will continue until the end of June or July, which is well past May 20," said Tom Hutchinson, the president of Magic Lantern Theatres.
"There is no reason to expect that any cinema in Saskatoon will be opened between now and May 20. So there was no point in attempting to salvage anything."
Other theatres in the chain, including Saskatoon's Roxy Theatre, are unaffected by Monday's announcement, but remain closed temporarily in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the ever-stricter physical distancing measures ordered by governments and health officials.
Hutchinson said the larger Magic Lantern chain has had to lay off 100 employees.
He said he'll especially miss the Rainbow Cinemas hallway murals of Saskatoon and its many bridges.
"[With] this COVID-19 thing ... it hurts everybody," Hutchinson said. "But we all just have to face each day and sometimes face each hour because it's changing so fast. And do the best we can."
Katrina Chapman, a supervisor and one of 20 employees at Rainbow Cinemas, said the staff were "pretty disappointed."
"But it is what it is," she said.
Earlier in the day, the theatre posted a message to customers on its Facebook page.
"It's been a wild ride. We've enjoyed every second of bringing the magic of movies to you and we have nothing but the deepest appreciation for your 25 years of patronage."
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