With its lease up, Cinemark Carriage Place Movies 12 closes permanently

Cinemark Carriage Place Movies 12 on Bethel Road shut down for good Sunday after its lease expired.

“Cinemark can confirm that it has permanently closed its Carriage Place Movies 12 theater following the conclusion of its lease term," a company representative said. "This closure is normal course of business and the result of the careful and ongoing review of our theater fleet.”

In 2018, New Jersey-based First National Realty Partners bought the Carriage Place Shopping Center from CASTO, a Columbus-based real estate firm. First National Realty Partner confirmed that Cinemark decided not to pursue a lease renewal.

"It is unfortunate that Cinemark decided to close their doors here," said Matt Annibale, senior director of acquisitions, in an email. "It had been a special place in the community for a long time."

First National Realty Partners has not yet determined how it will fill the vacated space.

"Our leasing team is currently exploring backfill options for the space," Annibale said in his email. "FNRP will always do whatever makes the most sense for the center, the community, and our investors."

The Carriage Place Shopping Center staple opened in May 1991, and was once coined the last "dollar theater" in central Ohio. Even after adjusting its business model in 2017, the theater has been known for its bargains, notably $5 movie tickets on Tuesdays.

Outdoor movies around Columbus: Want to see a movie under the stars? Check out these 6 Columbus-area outdoor venues

Mark Sloan, 58, visited the theater almost every week.

"To me, it meant a lot," he said. "I really liked having this neighborhood theater."

The northwest Columbus resident noticed low attendance rates even on discount days.

"It seemed like it was struggling," he said. "It was sad. I'd go there on a $5 movie day and yet it wasn't very full, even for a pretty new movie."

Cinemark Polaris 18 and XD and Gahanna's Cinemark Stoneridge Plaza Movies 16 remain open.

JNimesheim@dispatch.com

@JackNimesheim

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cinemark Carriage Place Movies 12 closed permanently at end of lease