In a movie theater “The End” normally marks the conclusion of a motion picture. This week the expression applies to the fate of Port Orchard’s Regal South Sound as it’s closing its doors.
The multiscreen facility, that many locals associate with fond memories, is ceasing operations at the end of Thursday, two employees said. Calls to parent company Regal Cinemas went unanswered. News of the shuttering came as a surprise to one theater employee who said he first learned of the plan just a few days ago. No formal announcement was provided to local media. Reports of its demise first began to circulate on social media.
Facebook comments about the closure have been posted from those who had childhood memories of seeing movies there to those who seem to expect the demise of the theater due to its deteriorating condition.
Courtney Ruane wrote, “Such a shame.”
“I saw my first movie there! (accompanied with a crying emoji),” Jessica Wyman said.
“That makes me sad,” Maddie Walker said. “But we all knew it was going to happen eventually. I remember always going with my grandma on $5 Tuesdays. Good memories.”
Ashley Mikelsen recalled, “I remember it being called South Sound Cinema 6 when it first opened … in 1990 I believe.”
“It stinks, there won’t be much for kids to do in [Port Orchard],” Ashley Nicole wrote.
Several people remarked about the declining condition of theater.
“I remember it opening as a kid [crying emoji]. It has been worn down for a while,” Heather Louk said.
Chelle Peterson said, “We saw Avatar there two weeks ago and froze our butts off through the movie because the heater was broken. No one warned us beforehand, we could have grabbed blankets from the car.”
The Port Orchard multiplex, like other theaters, suffered during the pandemic. Soon after COVID hit in March 2020, the theater closed for 17 months, an employee said.
Cineworld, the parent company of Regal, reported a $1.6 billion loss for the first six months of 2020, the first year of the pandemic. In September of 2022, Cineworld filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Forbes magazine.
