The Cineplex Cinemas Beaches in Toronto’s east end closed its doors on Tuesday, ending over two decades of service to the community. The closure, announced earlier this month, comes after the building’s owner did not renew Cineplex’s lease, with plans to replace the movie theatre with a fitness centre pending City of Toronto zoning approval.
Residents expressed dismay at the loss of a local landmark. “It’s terrible!” said Rai Muyoboke, a lifelong resident of the east end. “I used to come here all the time with my father and sister. It’s one of the best cinemas in the city because of the atmosphere and it contributes to the personality of the neighbourhood.”
The Beaches theatre originally opened in 1999 under the Alliance Atlantis banner before being acquired by Cineplex in 2019, according to information provided by Yelp and reported by NOW Toronto. The six-screen multiplex was a popular destination for families and couples, offering a more intimate viewing experience than larger cinemas.
Kaylee and Sydney Cousins visited the theatre on Sunday to notice a screening of Wuthering Heights. “When you come here, it’s generally not packed, so it’s easy to find a good seat,” Kaylee said. “And it’s local.”
The cinema’s presence extended beyond entertainment, becoming a fixture in the local commercial landscape. “It’s a place where people can meet; we go for our date nights, our kids’ parties,” explained Johanna Carlo, vice-president of the Beaches Business Improvement Area (BIA). “They really integrated into the life of this shopping street for over 20 years.”
Carlo anticipates the closure will have a short-term impact on surrounding businesses, such as cafes and restaurants that benefited from pre- and post-movie traffic.
While the closure is lamented by many, some observers suggest it reflects broader trends in the film industry. Paul Moore, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University specializing in media and film history, noted the decline of mid-sized cinemas. “This type of medium-sized cinema, not too large, where you can walk to, is increasingly a thing of the past,” Moore said. “The choice is now to take public transit downtown or jump in the car and go to the suburbs.”
Moore also pointed to changing consumer habits, with increasing preference for streaming services and alternative leisure activities. “There are only 24 hours in a day. Spending two or three at the cinema is no longer what people prefer, especially young people. They’d rather go to a restaurant or the gym.”
Carlo expressed optimism for the future, hoping the new tenant will also integrate well into the community. The fate of the building now rests with the City of Toronto’s zoning approval process for the proposed fitness centre.
