A Tale Of Two Theaters

The theaters are in the same city, owned by the same company, a mile apart. One is by the highway on a 14-acre lot, the other is two stories in the middle of town with underground, metered parking, and eateries on the ground level. One is closing.

1 minute read

October 14, 2008, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"The Century Park 12, just...off U.S. Highway 101,(25 miles south of San Francisco, surrounded by acres of free parking) showed its last movie Sunday, Oct. 5. It had shared blockbusters with the newer Century 20 Theater (located about a mile away in the heart of Redwood City's downtown) since it opened two years ago.

'[The closure] was a market decision,' Mayor Rosanne Foust said. 'That says to me that the attendance wasn't up there.'

David Irmer, who developed the newer theater for Cinemark, said management has already noticed a 35 percent increase in ticket sales since the older theater's closure. In addition, 'the city expects 25 percent more foot traffic in front of the downtown theater.'"

"The closed theater is expected to be replaced by residences though it is zoned commercial."

Friday, October 10, 2008 in The Examiner

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking and cycling on a street in Boston.

Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking

New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.

November 8, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

A rendering of people walking through a park to the chicago bears stadium, which is large and dome shaped.

Developers reveal $10 billion stadium plan as ‘Hail Mary’ to keep Bears in Chicago

The plan would also boast a public park, high- and mid-rise buildings and a youth sports complex.

1 hour ago - Chicago Sun Times

People watch as carbon dioxide is vented during a safety demonstration outside Nome City Hall in Jefferson Co.

As Texas embraces carbon storage, a Black community questions the risks

Texas now issues permits for companies to store carbon dioxide underground. East Texas residents fear safety risks, and skeptics doubt the climate benefits.

2 hours ago - Texas Tribune

Two horses in the plains of Colorado. One is white, one is copper.

New BLM proposal would slash public comment periods, environmental protections

The proposed rewrite would also strip legal leverage from Tribal nations and state governments.

3 hours ago - The Trek

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.