By Justin Bennett and Mark Goodwin
June 2011

Owners of the historic Neptune Theater Building in the University District announced last November they would not renew their lease with long-time tenant, Landmark Theaters. Instead, Seattle Theater Group (STG) is taking over operations and has agreed to invest $500,000 in renovation costs. Once reopened, the space will be a mixed-use venue for music, comedy, film and community events.

Landmark management and their employees were shocked and disappointed with the decision, but acknowledged that it’s much better for the theater than other potential fates.

At one point, the city and original building owners, the Thompson family, discussed leveling the theater and installing a subterranean station for light rail. The Thompsons naturally hated the idea of letting yet another Seattle landmark slip away in the name of “progress.” The only other viable option was to re-purpose the cinema.

“The Neptune could have been another casualty in the declining single-screen theater industry if it weren’t for our partnership with Seattle Theatre Group,” Craig Thompson explained. “We’d be considering numerous non-arts related property uses, such as retail.”

Shopkeepers in the building have mixed views about their new neighbor. The Trabant coffee shop and Neptune Record store expect the increase of foot traffic to boost their sales. Owners of Zanadu Comics and My Favorite Deli, on the other hand, predict it will have no positive affect on their business since their hours of operation do not coincide with typical evening performances.

In fact, Sean Kent of Zanadu thinks it will ultimately affect their business negatively: “We have another store downtown behind The Moore Theater, which is also run by STG. We never get walk-ins before shows there like we did with movies here.”

Though they have no consensus regarding how it will affect their business, shop owners do all agree the change will benefit the community. “Bad for business, good for the U-District,” Kent declared.

The Seattle International Film Festival is currently screening films at the Neptune, as they have in the past, and the first live music performances are scheduled for next weekend, with grunge crooner Mark Lanegan on June 17th and indie-band Okkervil River on June 18th.

Openings and Closures

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From the late 90’s through the present, several neighborhood and single-screen theater houses have shuttered their doors. Multiplexes however, have popped up in several Seattle area shopping centers. Independent neighborhood movie houses are now a rarity. If you live in a suburb, or urban area, and want to see a movie, there’s a good chance you’ll have to drive downtown or a major shopping center, then find parking.