The San Marco Theatre will close its doors permanently Jan. 1, the theater announced Dec. 28 on its Facebook page.
The social media post attributed the closing to a changing industry where theaters increasingly compete with streaming services for patrons, as well as the coronavirus pandemic’s negative effect on attendance.
“It’s with sad and heavy hearts that we share this news with our San Marco community and the city of Jacksonville,” the Facebook post said.
“We all have a lot of memories of this place. We’ll miss it.
“The San Marco Theatre occupies a warm place in a lot of people’s hearts, ours included. Thank you all so much for your patronage.
Questions about the theater’s future were circulating the week before Christmas.
The sanmarcotheatre.com site shows the two-screen venue will show “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Love Actually” through Dec. 31.
The theater’s final day of movies is Dec. 31.
Ryan and Jonathan Davis, two of the four owners recommended for comment by an operations employee, have not responded to questions about what is next for the theater.
San Marco Theatre is a two-screen art deco property at 1996 San Marco Blvd. that was built in 1938, 84 years ago.
It offers food, beer and wine.
“The tenant has been trying hard to make the business work but it is a very, very difficult environment for small movie theaters after COVID and due to streaming,” said Pamela Howard, property owner and the agent for property owner TSG Realty, on Dec. 22.
Howard said Jacksonville-based TSG Realty has worked with the operators “in a very cooperative way and know they are trying as hard as possible to generate business.”
While the theater may close, the building and facade will remain.
“We would never demolish this building. It’s structurally sound and looks fantastic,” Howard said by email.
“In addition, whether or not a movie theater operates there again, we are committed to always having the exterior façade look like the San Marco theater.”
TSG Realty announced Sept. 8 it bought the San Marco Square properties anchored and leased by the San Marco Theatre and Stellers Gallery for $3.35 million.
It bought the properties from San Marco Real Estate Partnership LLC.
Howard said then that the properties at 1990-1996 San Marco Blvd. total about 10,000 square feet and include an adjacent retail space.
“The longtime owner of these properties approached us directly to discuss selling and we were delighted to add to our portfolio in San Marco Square,” Howard said.
“We think San Marco Square is the best location in Jacksonville and these iconic properties rarely become available for sale.”
Howard said then that the theater has a lease “and will continue to operate to the best of our knowledge.”
Stellers Gallery is under lease at 1900 San Marco Blvd.
Property records show the theater comprises 5,421 square feet of space. The gallery and adjacent retail space total 4,372 square feet of space.
The third bay between the theater and the gallery is not occupied.
Both buildings were developed in 1938 and together sit on 0.28-acre.
San Marco Real Estate Partnership LLC is managed by John Curington, Keith Kimball and Joyce Kimball, longtime San Marco property owners.
Resident Community News Group Inc. reported Feb. 6, 2019, that long-time San Marco Theatre proprietor David Blue sold the business Jan. 4, 2019, to four San Marco residents and local businessmen – Frank Sanchez, San Marco Theatre Manager Andrew Oetjen, and brothers Ryan and Jonathan Davis.
The theater ownership group is leasing the space from TSG Realty.
