It’s been 13 years since Magic Johnson opened the theatre bearing his name at Greenbriar Mall on the southside. THIRTEEN dayum years!? Now…after all that time, the 12-screen movie complex is shutting it’s doors for good. I remember when the theatre first opened it’s doors, giving all on the southside hope that it would help bring the ailing mall back to life. It seemed to work for a minute, since the theatre’s location was combined with Magic Johnson’s TGI Fridays. But after a few years, the restaurant disappeared as well. It was boarded up for a while then reappeared as another restaurant and not it’s a club (Pearle Bistro).? I dunno what it is about Greenbriar but stores/restaurants/grocery stores have all come and gone and it’s still an Atlanta staple.
AMC spokesman Andy DiOrio said the company has closed a handful of theaters nationwide this year as it seeks to upgrade or close aging theaters.
?While we understand and appreciate that community?s affinity with that theater, we also have two others in that vicinity, AMC Parkway Pointe 15 and AMC Southlake Pavilion 24,? he said.
Atlanta City Council member Jim Maddox, who represents the Greenbriar area, said he?s disappointed to see the complex shuttered, and hopes another theater company will take it over.
One of the mall?s owners, Charlie Hendon, said that a broker hired to fill the space has received interest from potential tenants, including some non-theater uses.(Source)
News that the theatre is closing hurt my heart but I understand that business is business. Magic Johnson Theatre at Greenbriar faced stiff competition once the theatres at Camp Creek Marketplace opened it’s doors and it seemingly never recovered.? What we all feared would happen is happening. Good news for Camp Creek, but devastating to all around Greenbriar Parkway. After JC Penney left the mall empty for some time and finally Burlington settled in. Circuit City came and went leaving an emptly building and so did Cub Foods. Now this. I’m just hoping that our beloved Greenbriar can recover from this huge blow.
In case you want to visit the theatre one last time, you have until Sunday, October 11th.
