North Philadelphia Movie Theater Closes, Plans For New Theater Take Shape
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A fixture on North Broad Street for the last decade has closed its doors... But not for long.
The Pearl Theatre at Avenue North at Broad and Oxford has shut down, after a ten-year run. The seven-screen theater bordering the Temple University campus went dark for good Sunday.
The website lists no showtimes, and a recording on the movie phone line says this:
"I'm sorry to inform you that the Pearl Theatre has been forced to close as of August 28. We would like to thank the citizens of Philadelphia for their continued patronage for the past ten years."
Avenue North developer, Bart Blatstein says it's being replaced by an AMC theater.
"As nice as the Pearl Theater is, it's going to blow it away."
Blatstein says the Pearl's agreement expired last year, and he says the new deal with AMC will provide a high-end experience.
"It's better than being in your living room. The seats are wide and plush. They recline. There's tables. There's service to your seat."
Blatstein says AMC should resume showing movies in a week or so, as the transition gets underway.
