End of an era: The last day of movies at The Square's AMC West Palm theater announced
The movie theater at The Square, AMC West Palm Beach 12, is closing Sunday night, an indication of the big plans a developer has for the entertainment and shopping district.
The closing date was confirmed by Ryan Noonan, AMC Theatres' vice president for corporate communications.
"AMC regularly evaluates its locations and potential opportunities outside of its circuit and makes decisions to close or acquire locations on a theatre-by-theatre basis based on what will best strengthen the company going forward," Noonan wrote in an email.
Related Cos., a New York-based company that built The Square, plans to construct two office towers on the Hibiscus Street site now occupied by the movie theater. The developer plans to build another office tower on Fern Street next to the Brightline train station.
There are no movie times listed after Sunday at AMC West Palm Beach 12, according to the theater website.
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Palm Beach County wants to see more hotel space in the area to accommodate the nearby Palm Beach County Convention Center.
West Palm Beach recently approved technical land use changes that would accommodate Related's plans and those of the county.
Some area residents, aware that plans called for the theater to be closed, apparently reached out to city commissioners about those plans. Commissioner Christy Fox, whose district includes The Square, made clear that the city will not be making the final call on which businesses operate there.
"I know some of us have received emails and calls regarding the idea of the movie theater that is included in this ordinance," Fox said during a commission meeting on April 17. "I just wanted to clarify that whether or not we approve office towers going in, whatever in the future, it's not up to us to decide what the tenants would be."
The city's principal planner, Eric Schneider, agreed with that assessment. He noted that Related is expected to present more detailed plans to the city in June and that commissioners will have another chance to weigh in on them during a site plan review near the end of the year.
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Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter @waynewashpbpost. Help support our work; subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach's The Square's AMC movie theater closing date
