I know it's mentioned in the indie thread...but this needs more traction & attention IMO. This is terrible

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/25/2158770/carys-galaxy-cinema-may-be-demolished.html

Quote :

"The plans, submitted June 14 by an engineering company to the town of Cary, call for the demolition of the Galaxy and the construction of a 53,000-square-foot Harris Teeter."

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/27/2164285/cary-art-house-theater-gets-eviction.html

Quote :

"The cinema’s landlord, York Properties, demanded last month that the theater and an affiliated restaurant leave a southeast Cary shopping center, claiming the businesses have outstayed their lease and owe nearly $160,000 in past-due rent. York already has tentative plans to replace the aging theater with a 53,000-square-foot Harris Teeter grocery store."

Quote :

"It took less than 48 hours for more than 400 people to join Save Galaxy Cinema, a Facebook group founded Monday night. They’ve compiled a lengthy history of the theater and kicked around plans to pressure local governments and the developer."

here's the group http://www.facebook.com/groups/330887450327235/

and a New Raleigh response http://www.newraleigh.com/article/downtown-raleigh-will-take-galaxy-cinema-if-it-gets-demolished/

6/28/2012 8:22:08 AM

do they really owe $160,000 in back rent? shit

6/28/2012 8:30:19 AM

Quote :

"If Cary's is willing to demolish one of its few cultural institutions to get a Harris Teeter (which there are multiple of in a 10 mile radius), Downtown Raleigh will gladly give The Galaxy a new home, an audience and some business. Send it this way, since you don't want it Cary."

what does that even mean? downtown raleigh is a person?

6/28/2012 8:40:02 AM

Im trying to see how york properties is the bad guy...... Did they lie about the money thing??

6/28/2012 8:56:13 AM

sucks, but its hard to overlook 160k in back rent. pretty sure they wont have that problem with HT

[Edited on June 28, 2012 at 9:11 AM. Reason : although, with places that big, that may just be one months rent combined between the two of them]

6/28/2012 9:10:49 AM

Quote :

"It took less than 48 hours for more than 400 people to join Save Galaxy Cinema, a Facebook group founded Monday night. They’ve compiled a lengthy history of the theater and kicked around plans to pressure local governments and the developer."

They might be better served trying to take donations or having a fund raiser in an attempt to raise the 160K. That would probably be more productive than whining about it at the next town hall meeting.

Then again it's probably not an issue of 160K. York Properties may be getting considerably more from a deal that's already ironed out with HT and the 160K is just the excuse to get Galaxy out.

There's a HT right across the street, but I guess they can't expand in the place they're in.

Also, I remember going to that theater as a little kid. We'd go there once a week during the summer while in daycare. The only shows I remember watching there were old Pippi Longstocking stuff.

/off my lawn

6/28/2012 9:53:31 AM

guess they should have shown better films

6/28/2012 10:25:02 AM

Quote :

"They might be better served trying to take donations or having a fund raiser in an attempt to raise the 160K. That would probably be more productive than whining about it at the next town hall meeting."

I was thinking the same.

6/28/2012 10:32:37 AM

Damn, they owe as much back rent as I do

6/28/2012 10:49:25 AM

I'll be glad to swing a hammer if needed.

6/28/2012 10:53:58 AM

Survival of the fittest

6/28/2012 11:14:48 AM

^
yeah this same justification is what allows wal-mart to fuck up small towns all over the country

6/28/2012 11:27:30 AM

Quote :

"I'll be glad to swing a hammer if needed. "

same. i never liked that place.

6/28/2012 11:27:48 AM

Quote :

"yeah this same justification is what allows wal-mart to fuck up small towns all over the country"

If you can't run your business to make a profit and pay your bills, then you don't need to be running a business.

There are plenty of areas where mom and pop stores are operating and being profitable. Don't expect people to save you for your bad business decisions. There is an independent movie theater where I live that has come close to closing several times, and every time they make some changes and survive.

6/28/2012 11:35:58 AM

^
We support our friends when they're down on their luck. Why not support local businesses we appreciate as well? Although in this case, I doubt they'll pull through without big investors.

6/28/2012 11:42:56 AM

Quote :

"Why not support local businesses we appreciate as well?"

I already do that when I shop at their stores and watch movies at their theaters.

6/28/2012 11:45:54 AM

NewRaleigh annoys me to no end

worthless blog

6/28/2012 11:46:50 AM

always love misleading article titles that lead me to believe a plan is already in place to bring something downtown

6/28/2012 12:14:29 PM

Quote :

"sucks, but its hard to overlook 160k in back rent. pretty sure they wont have that problem with HT [Edited on June 28, 2012 at 9:11 AM. Reason : although, with places that big, that may just be one months rent combined between the two of them]"

..

Quote :

"The new eviction notices, filed on May 22 and May 24, make broader claims. They argue the cinema owes about 21 months of rent and the restaurant owes six months, and that leases for both businesses ended on April 15. The claim seeks full payment and vacation of the premises."

instead of saving the current location, people should be trying to move galaxy to another location.
like that theater that closed a couple years ago by the 401/70 split in garner.

[Edited on June 28, 2012 at 1:01 PM. Reason : move]

6/28/2012 12:54:27 PM

Quote :

"We support our friends when they're down on their luck. Why not support local businesses we appreciate as well? Although in this case, I doubt they'll pull through without big investors."

Every time one of these little indie places shuts down there's all this bitching and moaning about how great said place was from people who, like most of us, haven't visited in years. That's why they're shutting down, no one besides Indians really goes to the Galaxy, at least regularly.

6/28/2012 1:09:51 PM

From their weekly newsletter.

Quote :

"You may have heard reports that the owners of the land that Galaxy Cinema sits on have submitted plans to demolish Galaxy Cinema and move forward with other development for a corner property that has become pretty valuable as Cary has grown over the years. Please know that although the landowners are speculating about this possibility, at this phase it is only one possibility for the site and not a concrete plan for the future of our little arthouse home. We're so pleased and humbled by the overwhelming show of support from our patrons. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: "We wouldn't be the same without you." The owners and staff of Galaxy Cinema will do all we can to continue providing you the best independent, international, and documentary films for as long as we possibly can. Maybe longer! We are also planning plenty of special events (including the July 7-8 men's and women's Wimbledon finals). We'll always have the same passion for customer service, because each and every one of us sincerely loves working at the Galaxy and want the best experience possible for each and every one of our family members -- YOU! Hang in there with us, please, as the landowners of our site proceed with their decisions about what to do with this valuable bit of Cary real estate and as our Galaxy Cinema owners consider options to keep the vision of the Galaxy shining. "

I've always preferred this place, because they'll show great indies that you can't see anywhere else in the state, based solely on having 6 screens. As a paying member, hope it sticks around, but you gotta pay the bills, (if true)

6/28/2012 1:55:13 PM

Quote :

""It took less than 48 hours for more than 400 people to join Save Galaxy Cinema, a Facebook group founded Monday night."

I mean wow, 400 people. FOUR HUNDRED!

6/28/2012 2:27:17 PM

An "I ASSURE YOU WE'RE OPEN" sign out front seems appropriate right now.

6/28/2012 2:39:52 PM

Quote :

"Why not support local businesses we appreciate as well? "

if you appreciate them so much, why are they poor?

6/28/2012 2:54:38 PM

^

i mean its nice that people want to save this place, but if they're in debt they need to raise money and pay the bills. facebook activism is cool and all but in this scenario Galaxy is in the wrong and needs to pull their shit together

6/28/2012 3:01:22 PM

I'd rather see the Galaxy move to Raleigh anyway.

Quote :

"An "I ASSURE YOU WE'RE OPEN" sign out front seems appropriate right now."

Hahaha

6/28/2012 3:16:05 PM

I quit my job at Galaxy about a year ago, I don't speak for them, etc. etc., and I can't speak to their current finances, but you are fucking crazy if you believe that that 1)the theater is 21 months behind in rent (what fucking landlord would allow that to happen?), and 2)if it were, $160,000 would come anywhere close to the cost of that.

Some thoughts on this otherwise, and, again, bear in mind that I do not speak for Galaxy nor do I work there anymore:

- It is damn near impossible to keep an independent theater profitable. Madstone (I worked there too) was a chain and it was only there for 2.5 years. Galaxy has been open since 2004. The reason it's been there for so long is because the staff works their asses off to provide the community with films and events that nobody else in the Triangle can.

- Again, I don't know what's going on with the rent, but I have a feeling the whole situation has a lot more to do with the plan to move HT than it does with anything else.

Quote :

"Every time one of these little indie places shuts down there's all this bitching and moaning about how great said place was from people who, like most of us, haven't visited in years."

100% true.

Quote :

"no one besides Indians really goes to the Galaxy, at least regularly."

100% false. While Galaxy certainly doesn't have the same number of customers for the indie films as they do for the Bollywood films on weekends, they have hundreds of indie film regulars. There were 50-100 people I could count on seeing every single Friday or Saturday. You can't sustain a business on just those people, of course, but I'm talking about the hardcore regulars.

Also, not necessarily something that anybody cares about, but in terms of profits, indie films and Bollywood films were pretty much the same. Bollywood films gross more, on average, but cost the theater substantially more to show.

One more thing to think about: when you go to Galaxy, you're getting cookies from Sweet Jane's Bakery, coffee from Larry's Beans, chocolate from Escazu, beer from Carolina Brewing Company... when you support one local business, you support a whole bunch of others. Some of you don't give a shit, but that's something that's really important to me (and something that the new management that took over after I left has done a WAY better job of supporting). How much of the money you drop at Crossroads do you think stays in the community? It's nothing in comparison to the money you spend at places like Galaxy Cinema.

On an unrelated note, the whether-you-like-it-or-not switch to digital in the coming year is basically an asteroid hurtling towards the independent cinema industry that's going to be really hard for existing facilities to survive.

6/28/2012 4:24:24 PM

How many fucking Harris Teeter's do we need

6/28/2012 4:26:40 PM

I think I only went to Galaxy once when I was at State, but what are the other businesses around it?

There is one independent theater here in Charleston and it is beside a phenomenal authentic Mexican restaurant. Those two places feed off each other like crazy. People get quick meals and pair it with a movie. People decide to go see a movie and get a taco or two before or afterwards.

The theater was scraping by before the Mexican place opened. Now...both places are crushing it. Location is always key...but definitely with an indie movie theater.

6/28/2012 4:40:25 PM

There's a couple of decent but unpopular restaurants, a cool place to play Magic and Warhammer if you're into that, Cary Towne Centre Malle, and that's about it.

Believe me, if somebody had the capital to move Galaxy to Fayetteville Street or something, it could be very profitable. The worst thing about the theater from day one has been the location.

6/28/2012 4:45:19 PM

Quote :

"On an unrelated note, the whether-you-like-it-or-not switch to digital in the coming year is basically an asteroid hurtling towards the independent cinema industry that's going to be really hard for existing facilities to survive."

Yeah, completely unrelated, but fuck this shit so hard, and not just for the effect on independent cinema.

6/28/2012 4:52:08 PM

Well said, spöokyjon.

6/28/2012 4:58:02 PM

6/28/2012 5:22:14 PM

Besides the cost of changing the projectors, what's the problem with switching to digital?

There's an independent mom & pop (literally) theater in my parents' town that just switched to digital and the owner says he likes it better (besides the initial price obviously). They also still sell tickets for 5 bucks and have cheaper popcorn and drinks than any other theater I go to regularly.

By independent I mean not connected to a major chain, not that they show indie films.

6/28/2012 5:25:48 PM

^Ditto. And yeah, it would be crazy to see it in Downtown Raleigh, but I have a hard time imagining this would ever happen.

6/28/2012 5:27:23 PM

Quote :

"Besides the cost of changing the projectors, what's the problem with switching to digital?"

"Besides the cost" is kind of a silly phrase when you're talking about a local business spending several hundred thousand dollars on something that adds no value other than allowing them to continue doing business. Mainstream distributors are pushing digital because it saves them a huge chunk of money, and mainstream theaters can get assistance that will theoretically make it revenue neutral in 6-8 years (in that the distributors will give you some amount of money for each movie you play digitally, say $700, because not making a 35mm print saves them ~$1500).

I don't know whether or not those sorts of deals are available to places like Galaxy, but even if they are I can guarantee you they won't be as beneficial. Independent cinema distribution is based around the fact that, unlike mainstream releases, it's okay if Raleigh gets Moonrise Kingdom a month after New York and LA get it. The same print that played at the Arclight in LA or the Sunrise Cinema in NYC might find its way to Galaxy, The Colony, The Rialto, or The Carolina Theatre tonight for the premiere tomorrow. So, while Batman or The Avengers is playing on goddamn near 4000 screens simultaneously, the average indie film will peak somewhere in the 30-500 screen range.

It makes economic sense for Paramount to pay theaters $700 to play The Avengers in digital because it saves them $2000. While that might make sense for the first handful of locations that play an independent release, they're going to reuse the same prints for everywhere else. It's not in their economic interests to subsidize independent releases, so they have no reason to give places like Galaxy the same deal they give other places. And since there are hardly any genuinely independent distributors anymore, places like Galaxy are about to get fucked one way or another.

But, as I said, I've been out for a year, I ain't up on thangs, et cetera.

6/28/2012 6:33:23 PM

For those that care.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=7bvtbb44&v=001jZ0SncZoWrPJtQsQA-2jH1l_Q1JiUrYJz2Pmgc2GFGuYAkukZstydN83RDaeMu3RuZSkHJKP-63Szt6f-9-xCpNSesOByFfHYp1YqONONAs%3D

6/28/2012 6:50:53 PM

I can tell from that shitty email template that Kim (lovable concierge, marketing person, and grandmother) sent that out.

6/28/2012 6:53:33 PM

^^^ So in other words, it's just the cost of changing the projectors? I'm not saying that's not a major factor, I was just wondering if there were other factors as well.

6/28/2012 7:00:07 PM

In terms of financial costs, the main ones are replacing the projectors and retraining staff. There are other costs associated with being unable to get classic films available on archival prints but not on digital, the lower/differing quality of digital as compared to properly presented 35mm film, and dealing with and/or losing customers due to the lower/differing quality of digital as compared to film.

6/28/2012 7:05:38 PM

I doubt your last point makes much difference, if at all.

6/28/2012 7:12:38 PM

^True enough, but I have a home in my heart for the diehard nerds who refuse to watch digital.

Comment from Cary's mayor:

Quote :

"According to Kim Yaman of the theater, Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, who visits the theater regularly, confirmed the plans by the landowner to raze the structures to make way for the Harris Teeter. In the mayor’s blog, he commented on the proposal. “I certainly enjoy patronizing Galaxy and it is one of my favorite things to do,” said Mayor Weinbrecht in his official blog. “Unfortunately, this is not a council decision. The owner of the property is proposing to put a Harris Teeter on that site with a new building. We know that because he submitted a site plan. Since this is not a change of use (commercial), he/they are in their rights. So the person(s) in control at this point is the owner of the property. I will copy the town manager’s office to see if there is any information they can provide.”"

http://raleightelegram.com/201206282031

You can't really argue with that, but it still sucks.

6/28/2012 7:25:43 PM

Fuck digital projection.

6/28/2012 7:26:18 PM

Fffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuu

I hope the Galaxy doesn't close. Rialto is cool and all, but there are way more options at Galaxy b/c of the six screens. Obviously places like Crossroads and North Hills have way more screens, but Galaxy obviously caters way more to the kinda films I'm usually into.

And who in fuck's name needs another Harris Teeter?

It'd be cool if Galaxy ended up moving to Raleigh, though, and continued to maintain 6 screens (if that was even possible). The only thing I never liked about Galaxy was the location; it was in an area that I'd never visit for any reason other than to go to Galaxy.

6/28/2012 7:43:44 PM

nevermind about the empty theater. bought by the county.

6/28/2012 8:52:25 PM

not really on topic, but the first movie I ever saw in a theater was at the Galaxy (or whatever it was called when it wasn't the Galaxy in the 90s)

6/28/2012 10:57:08 PM

I remember watching The Big Green there with my soccer team

pretty sure I also saw the original 101 Dalmations cartoon there

6/28/2012 11:01:13 PM

Quote :

"How many fucking Harris Teeter's do we need"

This one is going to replace the woefully small Cary Towne Center location.

Quote :

"Im trying to see how york properties is the bad guy...... Did they lie about the money thing??"

First of all it does seem they're lying about how far behind they've fallen in rent, according to spookyjon. I tend to agree that no sane landlord is going to let a business fall that far behind without shutting 'em down long ago, especially knowing that the place probably has fairly slim margins anyway. Second of all, while it is possible and even probable that HT may have approached York and said "hey if that property ever comes available we might be interested" I doubt they said "hey why don't you kick out all the business that are there so we can come in". More likely York decided to pull the plug since the place isn't profitable. And, while I think losing the Galaxy will be a bad thing for Cary and for the Triangle as a whole, York isn't running their business as a community service. They're trying to make a profit and, right now, it sounds like they're not making any money on this property since the biggest tenant isn't paying their rent. When taxes come into play they may actually be losing money on it.

I hope they can re-open somewhere else. While I've not been since it was the Madstone (saw Chicken Run and Enigma there) it served a very useful purpose in the community and seems to have some very loyal fans. Plus the Indian community is getting larger, not smaller, so they need to get their Bollywood somewhere...

6/29/2012 8:42:14 AM

So what happens to the HT around the corner from Galaxy if this happens?

SAVE THE OLD HARRIS TEETER!!

6/29/2012 8:46:25 AM

http://filmschoolonline.com/sample_lessons/sample_lesson_HD_vs_35mm.htm

Interesting. I'm pretty interested in this stuff but generally do not care that much about the quality of the film I see in the theatre. I used to have my own 1080p projector but it started to become on of those things that owned me. If it is a huge action movie then I'll go to the IMAX but otherwise I just wish the image to not be too dim. Now at home is when I really start to get obsessed with the image.

Anyways, I will be attending Galaxy tonight.

6/29/2012 3:14:19 PM