252 Main Street, East Greenville, PA 18041
February 15, 2023
Dear Customers and Supporters of the Grand Theater:
It's hard to believe it has been 3 years since my last President's Letter about the Grand. I hope to cover all news, good and bad.
March 11, 2020 saw us close 2 days before the Governor's shutdown out of an abundance of caution due to a coming pandemic. This saw us closed for 63 weeks. We sold off our expiring food items and sold gift certificates to help with expenses to maintain the Upper Perkiomen Valley's landmark theater.
We reopened with Walt Disney's "Cruella" on 5/28/2021. 2021 was a slow year due to lack of decent product and lingering pandemic concerns. In 2022 we did no better than an extended full 2021 year. Again, this time mainly due to a lack of product. Selection was so bad we brought a number of previously played 2022 films (such as Top Gun Maverick) and others back due to absolutely no playable product.
With the recent bankruptcy of Regal Cinemas, and the constant shareholder dilution at AMC, the question is... is the Grand closing? One and a half years of dismal results later I can answer that question 100% accurately. ABSOLUTELY NOT!
We reinvested back into the theater in the past year and a half with new fire doors, an upgraded LFE (Low Frequency Emitter for the rumbles and seat shaking, something other than single screens cannot do due to sound bleed-thru), and brand new auditorium carpeting. We're getting even better! Not closing despite the troubles of others.
Our silent movies returned in 2022, and we celebrated quite a dream in my caretaking of the Grand. On October 4, 2022 the Heritage Conservancy awarded us Historic Landmark Status, exactly 98 years to the day we first opened. We received statewide coverage and look forward to our plans for our 100th in 2024!
Do we face challenges going forward? Yes. 2023 is again lacking in our core audience product. Our movie rental costs continue to climb. Concession supply costs are out of control, causing our first 50-cent price increase on certain items since 2009. Coconut oil prices are so high I made the decision to keep our re-restored 1948 Manley popcorn machine in storage as it uses 3 times as much popping oil as our modern machine. I do not want to punish our customers with another price increase due to reinstalling an antique Manley.
So what can you do to help? First, please come out for shows! Second, please don't sneak in food or drinks as that is what keeps your 98 year old community landmark going! Our large 85oz popcorn is $3.50. Regular 21oz soda is $2.50. Compare that to the remaining AMC theaters. We also have a box office, rather than going to the concession stand for tickets "for your convenience"!
We look forward to being around another 100 years! Please support one of two remaining true single screen theaters in Montgomery County.
Best wishes for a great 2023 and see you at the movies!
Sincerely,
Ed Buchinski,
President,
Grand Theater