A year has now passed since Huntington Beach’s Pierside Pavilion 6 closed and, to the best of my knowledge, the site has received minimal interest from potential operators. Having taken part in a speculative walk-through, this past October, I can attest to the theatre’s “turn key” condition; remarkable for an ocean side property, that is nearing twenty years in age. However, considering the hefty lease the theatre carries, along with the many logistical issues the site has always been burdened by, it seems unlikely the Pierside 6 will be re opening anytime soon. Fortunately, the stagnant real estate market would seem to fend off any gutting/demolition efforts, for the time being.
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While I have serious doubts the Pierside 6 could ever be successfully run as a standard cinema again, the site would appear ideal for a niche theatre. Being located adjacent to the downtown district, which already exists as an entertainment/dining “hot spot”, perhaps, one of the increasingly popular restaurant cinemas would be a nice fit. Yet, considering the facility’s rather compact design, the theatre would require some substantial remodeling and, likely, the addition of a neighboring unit for kitchen purposes, to make the concept viable. Obviously, a long shot idea within today’s economic climate.
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[…] March 16th, 2011 by ccrouch Huntington Beach’s Pierside Pavilion 6 is officially off the market. After sitting vacant, since 2008, the theatre was converted into 33,049 square feet of office and restaurant space this past December. Opened in May of 1991, the Pierside was operated by Mann (twice), Edwards, and The Movie Experience at varying times; none managing to make a successful go of it. Perhaps, a victim of too good a location, the theatre was never able to compete with the many draws of downtown Huntington Beach and the city’s famous coastline (literally, located across the street). Seems like a likely candidate for a “forgotten cinema” post in the near future. But, for now, we can remember this pleasant little theatre through some pictures I took during a 2009 walk through. […]