Sudbury residents fight to keep movie theatre open

A group of concerned citizens are looking for ways to keep a downtown Sudbury movie theatre open.

Today is the last day that the six-screen theatre will be open under the banner of Rainbow Cinemas. The Edmonton-based company recently announced that it can no longer afford to keep the theatre open.

Owner Tom Hutchison attended the public meeting Wednesday and said that when he opened the theatre nine years ago, he thought a downtown revival might follow.

"Our model here has never worked," Hutchison said. "We never did achieve the family attendance we have in other locations."

However, Hutchison did say he is open to proposals while the company runs out the remaining 14-month lease with the mall.

The steering committee formed to try and keep the theatre open is hopeful that things can be done under another model.

Ian Carlyle, with the Co-operative Council of Ontario in Subduy, says the committee is leaning toward a non-profit co-op route where patrons would also be shareholders. Government funding would also potentially come into play.