According to the CBC, the Ridge Theatre (and the adjacent Varsity Bowling Alley) at Arbutus Street and West 16th Avenue will be demolished by the Cressey Development Group in the next 6-12 months.
Cressey intends to build a mixed use development on the property with ground floor retail and concrete condominiums above. The real estate developer plans to file an application to the City in the next few weeks and is aiming for construction within a year.
Cressey Vice President Hani Lammam told the CBC that “a theatre is not in the future for the area”. “The Ridge Theatre as it stands right now is not doing well from a profitability perspective, so it’s a difficult situation, but they’re uneconomical,” he said.
President of Festival Cinemas Leonard Schein says the Ridge Theatre will continue showing movies until construction begins.
Photo: CBC
Last modified: March 12, 2012
No fun city! I’d much rather have my local bowling alley and movie theaters then another retail/condo space. Bets are that one of those retail spaces will inhabit a Starbucks. This is very disappointing and doesn’t really make we want to stay in Kitsilano any more.
Vancouver should be renamed Blandcouver. A city with nothing to do, outdated liquor laws, and grocery stores that can’t sell liquor is boring and bland.
Many years ago there was a proprosal to build a larger liquor on west broadway and city denied it because a few nimby residents didn’t want it.
More of the same, sigh….things really are getting bland & uninspiring here.
if they can’t turn a profit, doesn’t that mean people in the neighborhood aren’t supporting the business? and if they aren’t supporting the business… why would it stay open? I question how many people have gone to that bowling alley in the last year. Or bowling period…
That bowling alley seems to be busy every Friday and Saturday nights for disco bowling. There is also league bowling. Personally I go every couple months, it’s fun and cheap.
“Rundrd’ both businesses are profitable. But the leases weren’t renewed because the landlord can make more money developing condos, far more than they’ll collect in rent on that decrepit old building.
Anonymous says: that decrepit old building.
Have you been to the Ridge lately? The front stain glass window of the Ridge is art. No one in Vancouver likes art.