The theater wars in the Ithaca area are about to happen. Pyramid and Regal finally got permission to build their 14 screen theater in the former Ames/Hills in the mall.
http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...512020339/1002
If these screens and the 12 proposed for downtown come on line, than it will propbably spell the end of the two theaters locatd in the downtown area (Fall Creek and Cinemopolis, located across the street from the proposed location. In a city of 30,000 in a metro area of 100,000 with a stagnant to slow growing population, spending government monies on movie theaters (an industry that has undergone rapid consolidation and multiple bankrupcies, due to high prices and the shortening of the theater to DVD cycle) that will put out of business locally owned businesses who have succeeded over the last 15 to 20 years makes little sense. Also, by adding 16 screens to the area, both Pyramid and the proposed downtown location will be hurt, and with two locations of this size, only one will survive this. If the cities monies were spent on a 6 screen complex that would combine the Cinemopolis and Fall Creek locations into one location, with a couple of good restaurants and a coffee shop, this could work, but the plan, as presented to the city, makes no sense.