Movie Theaters (Knoxville, Johnson City, Greeneville: costs, to move, stadium)

[tonypitt]

Does anyone think that the Tricities area will see a new, contemporary-style movie theater anytime soon?

I find the local theaters in general to not be very up-to-date in styling and technology. My wife and I have taken to going to Asheville (near the Biltmore) or to Knoxville (near Turkey Creek) when we want to see a movie. Knoxville has IMAX. Asheville doesn't have IMAX but the screens are much larger than those locally. In a pinch we'll go to the theater in Greenville over the local ones. (We tend to not go to movies frequently, so when we do we want it to be worthwhile.)

Overall I'm just surprised at this 'deficiency' in the local area. In my mind, the big dirt field near Jason's Deli and the Courtyard Mariott would be a great place for a nice theater.

Any chance we'll get one? Anyone know any other nice places to go watch a movie?

[GingerSue]

I remember the large screens from the individual theaters here when I was growing up. Then everything shrunk.

Would you mind sharing info on the theaters in Asheville? Which have the larger screens?

[tonypitt]

The theater in Asheville is the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15. It resembles the theater in Turkey Creek (Knoxville), but just doesn't have IMAX. It's fairly new and a nice place. It's right off I-26 as well (you can see it from the highway). My wife and I have been there twice. It's closer than the one in Knoxville.

[Beretta]

We're going to Turkey Creek today to go to Regal. Nothing like that place!

[jabogitlu]

I've often thought that if Regal (or for that matter Phoenix) moved into Johnson City, the shoddy Carmike Cinemas would be dead. Regal has demonstrated their ability to move into unique space (downtown Knoxville's theatre is second in attendance in that market only to the TC location). Wouldn't it be fun to have a great new theatre utilizing part of the old General Mills site/bldg?

I'm from Greeneville (and have just moved back, actually) and I'm always kind of shocked at the cruddy JC theatre. Blah.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

I've often thought that if Regal (or for that matter Phoenix) moved into Johnson City, the shoddy Carmike Cinemas would be dead. Regal has demonstrated their ability to move into unique space (downtown Knoxville's theatre is second in attendance in that market only to the TC location). Wouldn't it be fun to have a great new theatre utilizing part of the old General Mills site/bldg?

I'm from Greeneville (and have just moved back, actually) and I'm always kind of shocked at the cruddy JC theatre. Blah.

Agreed! If we could only have some developers come together on this! There is a population "ripe for the picking" that will support a theater plus surrounding businesses. Ka-ching!

[rccrain]

The best part is that where the Carmike sits, you wouldn't even know it was gone - no eyesore factor.

[plainjayne57]

The Theatre in Greeneville is newer and nicer than the ones in Johnson City. We usually go to Greeneville to see movies.

[PacersFan]

that everyone thinks the Carmike is so awful. It just made me laugh, because as someone who only goes to the movies once every two or three years, I thought it was pretty nice when we went there this summer! LOL! Well, except for the prices, which are positively atrocious.

[jchometeam]

Yea the only time I go to a movie is near my hometown, where they have first run movies (but only a selection of the most popular 4) at 1.50 each day before 6, and 3.00 for the late movies. And water or soda costs about 3.00 instead of 4 or 5 locally. And this cinema has been in business forever and is packed each day. That tells me that these theaters are making way too much money to need mine. I dont personally care how nice the setting is, I simply will not pay the prices.