CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV) – A beloved Cabarrus County movie theater abruptly announced Monday morning that it is closing permanently.
Carolina Mall Cinema 8 announced Monday, Sept. 28, that it has permanently closed after nearly 50 years in Concord. The venue dates back to 1976, when it opened as a small cinema before expanding to eight screens and eventually 12 over nearly four decades.
“It’s with a heavy heart to inform everyone that the Carolina Mall Cinema is closed as of [Monday],” a spokesperson said. “We have enjoyed serving you over the years and will miss all of you.”
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The cinema did not provide a reason for the closure, but thanked customers for decades of memories.
“We have many regulars that we see each week and will miss each and every one of you,” the spokesperson continued. “Thank you to everyone who has been a customer of ours.”
Some of those regulars drove by the theater on Monday night to see for themselves the dark windows, locked doors and empty movie poster displays.
“I’m sad about it because we were just here. We just saw Paw Patrol here,” said Tina Jackson. “(My heart) feels empty because this was here for a long time. Even when I was in middle school this is where we’d come to watch movies.”
“It felt like a small-town community theater and you got to see people you see throughout the week,” said Aaron Lassiter.
Signs taped up all around the outside of the building read “The movie theater is permanently closed. We thank you for your years of patronage.”
WBTV has reached out to Southeast Cinemas, which owns the theater, for comment and is waiting to hear back.
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