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The Maple Art Theatre will reopen today after a short hiatus during which official ownership of Bloomfield Township's only movie theater changed.
"We got the keys (Tuesday) and will reopen with a full set of shows," Jon Goldstein, the new leaseholder, wrote in an email to Bloomfield Patch on Tuesday night.
The theater was closed for just two days while Landmark Theatres, which operated the three-screen cinema for 13 years, moved out. Goldstein said he signed a 10-year lease with Grand Sakwa Properties with two five-year extension options. The business deal was sealed in the fall, but was not formally announced or reported until officials at Landmark confirmed to Bloomfield Patch that their lease was not renewed Jan. 18.
Goldstein said he wants to continue showing the independent and artistic films that the theater has been known for since opening in 1974. He also promises to do so following significant renovations and upgrades, including digitizing and expanding the theaters. He's also seeking a liquor license from Bloomfield Township and wants to create regular programs geared to Maple patrons.
Construction plans and the liquor license are pending approval by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees. If all goes according to plan, Goldstein said he plans to close the cinema in April for roughly six-eight weeks while improvements are made.
The Maple will retain its current phone number 248-855-9091, but added a second line for showtimes at 248-750-1030.
Showtimes are also available on the new website, which is live but still has features in development.
Showing today and Thursday:
- The Artist: 11:45 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Shame: noon, 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Carnage: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Marcia Robovitsky
11:09 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Will someone please explain to me the concept of liquor at the movie theater?
Does one purchase the alcoholic drink and take it to their seat? May each ID holder purchase more than one drink at a time? Will this create more movement of people going to the lobby during the show?
If taking an alcoholic beverage to the theater seat is permitted, how does one insure that an under-aged person or an already intoxicated person won't receive that drink in the dark theater from someone who legally purchased that alcohol? I'm sure the theater personnel would be trained properly to sell the alcohol legally....but who will drink it is the important question?
The possibility of spilling food and drink has always existed at theaters..along with occasional rude or loud behavior. My imagination does not want to accept the odors of liquor/beer/wine added to the scene and the possibility of any intoxicated or buzzed behavior that may result ...sitting near to me or near to children.
Or, is there a space in the lobby with tables for drinking and eating where the management can monitor who is consuming the alcoholic drinks? No alcohol taken into the seating area?
When I know the facts, I will know what choice I will make about attending a theater that has a liquor license.
Do you think there should be a public hearing before a liquor license is "applied" for any establishment? Once the state or city says OK to a permit...the public voice may be too late.
Judy Herman
2:53 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
For fellow film lovers, Hip City Deals has a great discount for the "new" Maple Theatre going on now. Here's the link: http://www.hipcitydeals.com/south-oakland-county/offers/180