JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Sun-Ray Cinema, the first theater in Jacksonville to play movies with sound will show its last film soon, nearly 100 years after it first opened.
The impact will be felt behind those doors, but also at businesses throughout Five Points, like the pizza place right across the street.
“We feel very welcome by the community," said Rodrigo's Craft Pizza Owner Alexander Rodriguez.
Just as Alexander Rodriguez was getting into the groove of owning a restaurant in five points after opening Rodrigo’s Craft Pizza three months ago, he found out he’s losing his neighbor across the street.
“I grew very quickly used to, right out my window, the Sun-Ray’s name up, people coming in after a movie to eat pizza here at Rodrigo’s," said Rodriguez.
Union South Partners purchased the building, and the Chief Financial Advisor says operating a two-screen cinema “simply isn’t financially sustainable in today’s environment.”
The group is talking with entertainment businesses to fill the space, but won’t have any more information until they “find the right partner.”
One thing they are not looking at is a virtual golf establishment, a rumor that spread on social media.
The area’s city councilman, Jimmy Peluso, has asked Union South Partners to make the community a partner in making that decision.
“I want them to come speak with our folks, tell the community what it’s going to be, how it’s going to be implemented," said Peluso.
Union South Partners says the 16 other businesses that call the Five Points Theater building home, including Brew Five Points, a coffee shop next to Sun-Ray Cinema, will stay till at least to the end of their leases – one tenant told me their lease runs for another four years.
The owners plan to keep the outside façade in tact, with renovation happening inside, but want to keep it occupied while that is happening.
While he waits to see what comes next, Rodriguez will keep dishing out pizzas to moviegoers, maybe catching a screening himself.
“I actually haven’t been able to go because I haven’t had the time, but I’m going to go before it’s too late," said Rodriguez.
Sun-Ray will leave at some point in July, although it hasn't announced when or what the last showing will be at this point.
Peluso is optimistic he’ll be able to work with the theater’s owners to find a new place for them to move to in Jacksonville.
First Coast News received answers to the following questions from Union South Partners' Chief Financial Advisor Andrew Seng:
Could you provide some examples of the “entertainment operators” new ownership is talking with about moving into the space? Just so we have an idea of what that could be like? (I’ve heard rumblings about virtual golf?)
- We are in discussion with a number of reputable and successful entertainment concepts. Once we’ve selected the right partner for the building and Five Points, we will make further announcements.
- We are not in discussions with any virtual golf concepts.
The news release mentions the Sun-Ray’s lease will not be renewed. Can you provide a reason why?
- At several points in time throughout the building’s history, evolving market conditions and changes in how people pursue entertainment necessitated closures or changes in use across multiple decades, including the 1930’s, 40’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Unfortunately, a two-screen cinema simply isn’t financially sustainable in today’s environment, and we believe you’ll find Sun-Ray’s operators would concur. They will continue to operate the cinema into July to host some final events, and it is our understanding that they are actively looking for other venues in the area that are more conducive to operating Sun-Ray into the future.
- For our part, we are very excited to reinvest into the space and bring about the next iteration of entertainment at the Five Points Theater building for Riverside as well as the broader Jacksonville community. We look forward to releasing additional details in the near future.
- All further questions about Sun-Ray Cinema should be directed to the owner/operators.
When will the Sun-Ray need to leave the building? Any idea when the last showing will be?
- Addressed in response above.
During the renovations, will any of the office space be made into residential space?
- Residential space is not part of our plans. The building will remain an entertainment destination with retail and office space.
The theater received a historic designation 20 years ago. How does that factor into renovation work? Will there be any changes to the outside of the building, or just inside?
- Our intent is to keep the historic fabric and elements of the building intact, including the façade. Our renovations are focused on interior improvements and refurbishment in-keeping with the building’s history and historic designation.
Will all existing tenants be asked to leave when their leases are up so the building is empty for renovations?
- Renovations will be done so as to minimize any disruption to the current tenants. The locally owned and operated coffee shop Brew will remain in its current location. We also have 15 tenants who lease office space, whose current lease agreements will remain in place for their existing durations. Overall, our goal is to keep the building as occupied as possible now and well into the future.