(Photo: Twitter/Jennifer Ann Wilson, WXYZ)
Royal Oak's art and independent movie theatre appears to be closing the curtain on 80 years of business with this marquee news at right.
The Main Art's operator, Landmark Theatres, put the complex on hiatus in April, citing operating losses due to the pandemic. It was unknown how long the three-screen movie house would be closed, but a representative for Landmark told The Detroit News the company was eager to reopen because "especially with historic theaters, we don't want to leave them unattended for too long."
The News reported the apparent closure, citing a photo of the marquee posted in a suburban online forum. The paper couldn't reach Landmark for comment.
The theatre and adjacent plaza are owned by a subsidiary of A.F. Jonna Development, which owns commercial plazas throughout the suburbs.
Fans lamenting Saturday's news include state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak. "This is a horrible blow to our community and I hope someone will save this gem and give it another life as a theater," she tweets. "We can't see it torn down. ... An indie theatre/bar/coffee shop would do really well here (a la the Maple in Birmingham)."
