The general manager of Sidney’s Star Cinema said its soft opening at the old and new sites was a hit with audiences.
“It was very busy, so we really appreciate everyone coming out,” Lindsay Pomper said. She said staff received a lot of positive feedback about the movie experience as well as the theater itself. But other reviews overshadowed those.
“The most important thing we keep hearing is that people are happy that we’re reopening,” she said. “It’s great to see so many familiar faces. I think one of the things that is special about Star Cinema is that we have so many Loyal clients come to see a movie (or two) a week, so it’s really great to see them again and catch up with them.”
The theater itself is part of the Cameo apartment complex, a mixed-use development comprising ground-floor commercial space and 45 residential units ranging from 500-square-foot entry-level studios to 2,500-square-foot luxury penthouses.
Friday’s soft opening also marks the return of the theater, which once operated for more than 20 years from a space on the corner of Third Street and Sydney Avenue before moving to a temporary location while the site underwent redevelopment.
Employees are still adjusting to the new restrictions, Pomper said.
“It’s a bigger space for us, and we’re still getting used to the new layout and figuring out what system works best for us, so it’s a little bit busy at times.” But she added that everyone has been patient and happy about it. have a sense of humor.
Pomper said the theater is still working toward a grand opening event, but is also working to exceed that goal. “We’re exploring moving to selling tickets online to help manage longer lines, so we’re getting feedback on that.”
Star Cinema has also heard inquiries about children’s movies. Pomper said they were coming. Star Cinema will be showing Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile this coming weekend, while Disney’s Strange World will be showing on November 23rd.
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Saanich Peninsula