Daryl Lund knew that when the new multiplex theater came to town that things might get a little grim for his two theaters, Chehalis Cinema and the Regal Cinema 3 at the Yard Birds Mall. Two months after the opening of Midway Cinemas at the Lewis County Mall, the Chehalis Cinema closed its doors for the last time on Dec. 15 due to its inability to compete with the new theater. “I didn’t have any movies to show, because the new theater took them all,” Lund said. “I could show movies all day, but I’d lose money because nobody would go. It’s just hard when you can’t get the movies the bigger guys tend to get.” Because the new theater has 10 screens compared to one at the Chehalis Cinema, they received more of the new premieres that most people go to enjoy. In the end, without the movies, there could be no theater. “It’s frustrating because me and Daryl enjoyed (managing the theater),” said Jim Rothlin, executive director at the Port of Chehalis and Lund’s business partner. “Not only to run it, but to give back to the community. But without the number-one movie, it’s hard to keep it open.” Even the lower ticket prices and the building’s aura and mystique were not enough to lure top new releases and dollars away from the new theater. When asked why they chose to close the Chehalis Cinema versus the Regal Cinema, it all came down to which one was more financially viable. “It was a tough decision,” Rothlin said. “But number one, we had three screens at the Yard Birds and had a good relationship with Darris (McDaniel, owner of Yard Birds Mall), and we want to keep things going over there.” Lund also said the difference in utilities cost to heat the two buildings played a part in the decision-making process. The closing of the cinema also deals a huge blow to downtown Chehalis. “For me personally, it’s a loss for the downtown core,” Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum said. “It was a big draw, and it’ll leave a big hole in the downtown.” And the closure could also leave a big hole in the wallets of some of the businesses located nearby. “It’s an old-time theater,” Ketchum said. “It was historic, it had the big marquee that lit up the street. Hopefully it won’t mean the loss of business, but I think (the area) will lose the foot traffic.” Ketchum said a loss of business could happen for some in the downtown core. Lund first purchased the building in 1994, and leased it out as a video store. In 1997, he leased it out to a man who turned it back into a theater, but he wasn’t able to keep it open for more than a year. Lund then took over running the theater in 1998, and has been operating it as such until this past December. It’s unclear at this point what the future holds for the theater, but Lund and Rothlin said it will most likely not open again for some time. The restrictions placed on them by the movie theater hindered some of their ideas to keep it open or reopen it. “You can’t do dollar nights and family nights,” Lund said. “The movie companies say you have to charge this much and be open this long,” Instead, Lund and Rothlin will focus their efforts on keeping the Regal Cinemas at Yard Birds open. Ideas are still in the works to make the cinema unique to its counterpart down the street. One idea that Rothlin mentioned was to reach out to the Latino community by offering English movies dubbed in Spanish. Lund refuses, however, to sell the Chehalis theater to a retail company. “Maybe it’s not the right business decision, but the theater has always been a hub,” Lund said. “There’s not many of those theaters left. It’d be sad if the biggest draw of downtown was gone.” On the lighter side, there could however be big business in focusing on a particular niche market. “Who knows, I might start showing X-rated movies,” Lund joked. Marqise Allen: (360) 807-8237 Holly Pederson, hpederson@chronline.com The marquee at the Chehalis Cinema sits blank and dark Monday afternoon in Downtown Chehalis. The theater closed it doors Dec. 15 after not being able to compete with the new Midway Cinemas at the Lewis County Mall. The Chronicle file photo Angela Johnson, Onalaska, left, poses for a photo during the premiere of “The Immigrant Garden” at the Chehalis Theatre in downtown Chehalis in May 2001. The Chronicle file photo Movie buffs celebrate the opening of a Star Wars episode during better times for the Chehalis Cinema. The classic theater closed down due to stiff competition from the new movie theaters that opened late last year at the Lewis County Mall.
