Choice in Maine? Caribou or Houlton? (Brunswick, Presque Isle: home, buy, movie theaters)

[Jacker]

Hi,

I am from Ny and planning to relocate. I have been searching for a movie theatre to own and operate. I found one in Caribou and one in Houlton.
Which is the better and safer town to relocate with two kids age 10 and 15?
Also which town is more likely to support a hometown theatre run by a family who listens to the towns needs!

[Bydand]

I cannot speak for the one in Houlton, but if I go see a movie it is in Caribou. Recently the old theater in Presque Isle re-opened and I don't know if that has had an impact on the Caribou theater or not. I do know that the Caribou theater has a loyal following because of their low prices. A big national chain opened one up in Presque Isle a number of years ago, and charged the "going" rate for a movie. Even at $7.00 a ticket, they were empty a majority of the time because Caribou had (and still has) a policy that a family pays no more than $20 to see a movie. 2 Adults & 4 kids = $20; 2 Parents, 2 Grandparents & 4 kids = $20. The location of the "big" theater is where Lowes Home Center stands now. It was nice to see a little local place beat the large conglomeration at the game. Now that there is competition again from another local theater down the road in Presque Isle any change in that policy would lose business. Houlton, I am not sure of. I work with a guy that was born and raised in the Houlton area and last week we were doing some work down there, I asked what the theater was like, he said he had never been in it, not even as a kid. Don't know if that is still the case of nobody going, or not. I do know it had been closed for many years and just recently re-opened.

[Missing MD]

Hi I am from Houlton i just recently moved to Maine from MD in Dec. 06 I LOVE it here houlton has that small town charm that i love and especially nice to raise children... being from MD where i had access to big corporate movie theaters i was dissapointed but like i said small town... anyway it is nice inside supposively they have done alot of work to it im not sure what it looked like before but it looks nice now my mother in law said that it looks completely different and for the better... they only have two theaters in it and usually only play family oriented movies or movies that are for adults but are more comedy or drama nothing to over the top which sometimes i wish they were like 300 didnt come here which I was SOOOOO dissapointed ANYWAY sorry i like to ramble sometimes... tickets are around 6 bucks and they are only open either wendsday or thursday through sunday they offer matinees on saturday and sunday and i think half price on thursdays... its right in market square which is a main stretch of road... Like i said though i really enjoy it here its a great place to live i havnt been to the one in caribou though ive only been up there to get my drivers license done... I will tell you though that there is a Wal Mart here and a couple gracery stores but our wal mart sucks and I go to the Super Wal Mart in Presque Isle (like 45 mins north on the way to Caribou) to go grocery shopping soo much cheaper and worth the gas!!!! Well thats enough rambling..... hope this helps and good luck!

[kellysmith]

Can't speak for Caribou, but the parking lot of the theater in Houlton has a lot of Canadian licence plates in it. I would theorize since Woodstock is a fairly large community and it's just across the border from Houlton you would have a pretty good market from there as well as the locals. Caribou being further from the border would bring in fewer Canadians I'd think. I can't think of a major New Brunswick city that would be close enough to Caribou to draw folks from. Right now with the exchange rate, businesses are very keen on Canadian business.

[ExAirForce]

Being from Houlton (left 24 years ago) the theater has had a nice upgrade to it. Originally it was one larger theater that could only show one movie at a time. Since they divided it and made two theaters, it means that you can have to movies showing at the same time and appeal to more of an audience. Being a teenager in Houlton you don't have a lot of options available to you so the theater was always great to have. Especially during the long winter months. Way back then we even had the drive in on North Road which has since sadly closed. My family and I visit the theater in Houlton whenever we are back on vacation and it would be sad to not see it open.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by Bydand

I cannot speak for the one in Houlton, but if I go see a movie it is in Caribou. Recently the old theater in Presque Isle re-opened and I don't know if that has had an impact on the Caribou theater or not. I do know that the Caribou theater has a loyal following because of their low prices. A big national chain opened one up in Presque Isle a number of years ago, and charged the "going" rate for a movie. Even at $7.00 a ticket, they were empty a majority of the time because Caribou had (and still has) a policy that a family pays no more than $20 to see a movie. 2 Adults & 4 kids = $20; 2 Parents, 2 Grandparents & 4 kids = $20. The location of the "big" theater is where Lowes Home Center stands now. It was nice to see a little local place beat the large conglomeration at the game. Now that there is competition again from another local theater down the road in Presque Isle any change in that policy would lose business. Houlton, I am not sure of. I work with a guy that was born and raised in the Houlton area and last week we were doing some work down there, I asked what the theater was like, he said he had never been in it, not even as a kid. Don't know if that is still the case of nobody going, or not. I do know it had been closed for many years and just recently re-opened.

yes, its great to hear a local business beat out a national chain!!!!!


i use to take my son to a movie when he was younger,,,i believe the tickets were 6-7, which,, i could tolerate,,but what was very offensive to me, was the prices of the popcorn and soda,,totally ridiculous!!
yes, i know i dont have to and didnt buy it,,