The long delayed reopening of the former Edwards Franciscan Plaza 5 took place this past Friday (5/7/10). Re-christened the Regency San Juan Capistrano, the theatre has undergone a major renovation, now utilizing a Moroccan theme and featuring an eatery, “Rick’s Cafe” (both a nod to the film “Casablanca”). The theatre has also added stadium seating and cut the original screen count by one; the lost auditorium is likely a concession to the addition of the cafe and an adjoining lounge area. Of particular note, a second floor auditorium has been designated as a “VIP screening room”, offering food and alcohol service.
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By chance, the reopening fell just a couple weeks shy of the ten year anniversary of Edwards closing the theatre on 5/19/00. After a decade absence, San Juan Capistrano once again has a cinema.
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While very nicely decorated, I found the seats were not as comfortable as some of the older threaters, but the stadium seating does help. That could of course be due to the fact that they were new. The concept was good but the theme of Morroco everywhere just a little boring.This Ricks Cafe and a special screening room is not new. It has been in Europe a long time.Projection is superb due to the small auditoriums.However the practice of an extra $3 for
3D may be the killer here and I know they all charge it.This theater needs to look at special prices for seniors beyond the $8-50 i was charged . Ther film. ”Robin Hood’ [first showing on Friday,] was very poorly attended.All those empty seats might have been filled if there was a reduction before 5 pm.There is, but at $8-50 few will attend.Here is an oppertunity to make it work ,not only on weekends , but during the week too.
It is far better to introduce it early than wait and do it when there is a lack of attendance. Restaurants surround the the theater but this added attraction will help but don’t wait until the novelty wears off before a reduction is introduced.Knowing the Cinema business , if you wait , it will be a big mistake.There must be room for a reduction as the paper states , $450,000 interest free loan was issued by the city, and the theater will bring in visitors. Far less than was spent on renovations, But now is the
time to make the adjustment.