Bowling & movies at Macy's (Pittsburgh, Washington: fit in, apartment, home)

[PghYinzer]

I am part of the Tako/Ace Hotel demographic, and that being said, this will be my movie theater of choice. It is easier for me to get from my house in Brookline to downtown than it is to a suburban movie theater, so I would be all over this. Now after work happy hours can have bowling too.


Also for business/convention travelers, this is something different to occupy your time. If you are done at the office at 5, and aren't big into going out eating/drinking with co-workers or other convention attendees, you can now grab a movie on a week night.


Last time I was in Cleveland for a few days for work, we hit up the bowling alley on East 4th Street. It was really great because it was easy to get to and was a different and more lively atmosphere that just a bar.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by xdv8

I don't know your demographic, but maybe this development isn't for you.

Admittedly I may be using too much of my personal situation in my thinking. I have a nice movie theater I can walk to (SS Works), same with plenty of sports bars; would certainly rather go to Arsenal Lanes to bowl because it rocks & have no interest in an arcade. I do enjoy going out downtown too; this place just wouldn't make the list. (At least judging from their website & menu & examples of the other locations they have). Again all my personal opinion.

[Lobick]

I think the bowling aspect especially could become a site for the kind of office party/ "mandatory fun" type team building get together that we all love. I worked for a firm once where we left downtown for Arsenal Lanes just to pull an event like that off.

I think having an indoor, family-friendly entertainment spot downtown like this would probably work. It's not particularly innovative or "cool" but it would fill a niche that's not really being addressed right now.

Honestly, if you're downtown and you want to go to a downscale, chain-type sports bar (which honestly sometimes I do), you have to go to the North Shore (maybe The Yard, but not really).

[gladhands]

The movie theater will drive business to the rest of the complex. It will immediately become my multiplex of choice. Right now, if I want to see something that isn't playing at the Manor Theater, I head down to the Waterfront. I would MUCH rather go downtown.

[_Buster]

They should nix the arcade part and instead put in a mid size grocery store with adjoining area to sell beer & wine.

[RogersParkTransplant]

I would love a good downtown movie theater. In Boston we always saw movies at that big theater by the Commons, and its something I have really missed in Pittsburgh. It helps that so many of our bus lines (like the one I ride daily) take people straight downtown, and of course all the Pitt and CMU students can take the 61, 71, etc for free.

I realize that downtown is a bit of an underdog location for this sort of thing, but I think that can change.

[SteelCityRising]

We'd gladly walk Downtown to go to a movie theater. We've been driving up to the Cinemark in the McCandless Crossings/SoDoSoPa because we think the theater at the Waterfront is starting to feel dated and worn out. A bowling alley? We'd probably stick to Arsenal Lanes for our roughly bi-annual bowling pilgrimage.

[sky329]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

We'd gladly walk Downtown to go to a movie theater. We've been driving up to the Cinemark in the McCandless Crossings/SoDoSoPa because we think the theater at the Waterfront is starting to feel dated and worn out. A bowling alley? We'd probably stick to Arsenal Lanes for our roughly bi-annual bowling pilgrimage.

that mccandless crossings theater is great.. So clean and new.. Waterfront is def dated and worn and becoming nasty... Needs a reno soon or there going to ruin that beautiful building..

[ferraris]

You think The Waterfront theater is dated and nasty?! Don't ever go to the Waterworks one if you have that high of a standard for theaters!

[MountainDewGuy]

It's funny that people who have been to downtowns in other cities are all for this idea. Those who don't think other cities exist outside of Pittsburgh believe it will fail.

Anyway, this theater would actually be the closest new theater for many people in the city and region. Plus, there are lots of people who avoid the Waterfront because of either the traffic jams or because of problems there. Same thing with the theater at Monroeville Mall. However, not having a light rail line from the east end is still a huge weakness for downtown.

The comment about this being like Dave and Busters is incorrect. D&B doesn't have movies theaters and bowling allies. At least not the one in Pittsburgh.

In the end, the local folks with influence will likely stop this from happening so that the owner of the Manor Theater in SH can put in a crappy behind-the-times offering downtown.