Another new venture
- Thread starter tunes4046
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Have they converted to digital projectors? Even those will be phased out as LED screens become the norm. Definitely do your research on this stuff.
I think the first question you have to ask yourself is, is your town growing (or at least staying stable), or is it dying?
If it's the latter, no money spent on rejuvenation or new management will make a difference if the population is declining.
Also even if the overall population is staying relatively stable, if the demographics are an older crowd then I would say the drive in would probably not appeal to them on a regular basis but the property might have other uses that could still incorporate the use of the outdoor screens like car shows, farmer's markets and maybe concerts.
Are the indoor theatres screens only or is there also a stage that could host bands or other types of live shows or plays?
If it's the latter, no money spent on rejuvenation or new management will make a difference if the population is declining.
Also even if the overall population is staying relatively stable, if the demographics are an older crowd then I would say the drive in would probably not appeal to them on a regular basis but the property might have other uses that could still incorporate the use of the outdoor screens like car shows, farmer's markets and maybe concerts.
Are the indoor theatres screens only or is there also a stage that could host bands or other types of live shows or plays?
If you followed my roller rink post you would know that I don’t always do things for pure profit, the people that currently own the theater bought it in the late 80’s and are ready to retire, it doesn’t attest to them too much whether it sells or not, it will close this fall. Maybe I have a case of small town nostalgia, but I hate seeing a towns major source of entertainment disappear.
On another note I was just informed last night that bowling alley in the town I currently live is being sold 8 lanes and a ton of history, I’ll have to choose one or the other
Go with the bowling alley, for two reasons: 1.) People can watch movies anywhere, and 2.) it complements the roller-skating business nicely, especially if you have a redemption arcade and/or cosmic bowling nights. Your cross-promotion opportunities are endless.
My concern with the movie theater is they have multi plex theaters now that put small theaters out of business. These places have at least 10 screens to show different movies and the same movie in different formats. So you get a wide variety to choose from. I have seen places that were doing well and because of what I stated earlier they no longer exist. The building is there but that's it.
Where will they put up a multiplex? Prairie du Chien? Dodgeville? Mt. Zion? Dickeyville?
Also have to think about the state of the business.
Regular theaters have to charge ridiculous prices on admission and at the concession stand to pay for the cost of getting the movies.
Drive in's have a real tough time surviving....because of the cost...AND because they depend on the weather.
They can only operate for several months a year, can only get customers on weekends...
and if it rains, you lose all your income for the day.
There is a drive-in about an hour from me, in a very very very small town. It's one of my favorite places to go to and I try and go a couple of times a year (mostly because of the summer, I'm DJing on Saturday nights, Mondays I have to go to work at 7am, so at best I'm getting home at 2 or 3am) but I always vote for the movies. I don't remember the last time I went bowling.
If the indoor theater has a stage that's certainly an opportunity to promote other types of entertainment at that venue, but as someone who has acted on a movie theater stage, it's certainly more difficult and small town plays do best with a cast of kids, so you have to remind the kids they can't touch the screen etc. It's doable (as a playwright, my first two plays were performed in such a venue and I've acted on such a stage 3 or 4 times) but it's always a challenge to remind the actors what they can and can't do. They also usually don't have much backstage area or wing space.
If the indoor theater has a stage that's certainly an opportunity to promote other types of entertainment at that venue, but as someone who has acted on a movie theater stage, it's certainly more difficult and small town plays do best with a cast of kids, so you have to remind the kids they can't touch the screen etc. It's doable (as a playwright, my first two plays were performed in such a venue and I've acted on such a stage 3 or 4 times) but it's always a challenge to remind the actors what they can and can't do. They also usually don't have much backstage area or wing space.
The bowling alley would be the easier business to run, and actually make money with.
The Drive in, you have to hire a lot of summer staff, after September or early October the business is dead. It does not pick up again until May. The property taxes for that large of a property is much higher.
The only way I would consider the Drive In theatre is if the purchase price is so low that you just can't say no to the deal.
I am surprised there are no corporations looking to purchase the land, and put in something else actually.
All the mom and pop property around here has been purchased by large corporations. ...There is still a single Drive in movie Theatre about 15 minutes from me. Its been in business forever.
A lot of the other property that went for sale over the last few years has been bought up by 7 11 or Royal Farms, and gas stations went in. We have so many gas stations/convenience stores in the Baltimore area now, it is crazy.
The Drive in, you have to hire a lot of summer staff, after September or early October the business is dead. It does not pick up again until May. The property taxes for that large of a property is much higher.
The only way I would consider the Drive In theatre is if the purchase price is so low that you just can't say no to the deal.
I am surprised there are no corporations looking to purchase the land, and put in something else actually.
All the mom and pop property around here has been purchased by large corporations. ...There is still a single Drive in movie Theatre about 15 minutes from me. Its been in business forever.
A lot of the other property that went for sale over the last few years has been bought up by 7 11 or Royal Farms, and gas stations went in. We have so many gas stations/convenience stores in the Baltimore area now, it is crazy.
You know not everyone is looking for huge profits, these small recreational business are small town community staples, in both cases the owners are more interested in continuing a legacy for the town, than maximizing profits on their sale, as much as I would like to do both, i am going to focus on the bowling alley as my hometown is about 45 minutes away while the bowling alley in in the town I currently live in and only a few block from the rink I own hopefully I can make enough to pay the bills make some upgrades and provide a few jobs for my community
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