urbanMSP

The owners of the St. Anthony Main movie theater are investing $2 million in renovations this fall. The renovations will consist of new digital projection technology, improved sound systems, new decor, new heating and air conditioning and new seating.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... ation.html

That's great news. I really like that theater, even though it's become somewhat decrepit. I appreciate the Main's more adult orientation that you don't find in the suburbs. I am puzzled by part about upgrading to digital technology. I thought that all theaters had to do that a while back.

I went recently and quite enjoyed it, mostly due to being able to explore the St. Anthony Main area before and after the movie, but still. The ticket prices are VERY affordable compared with AMC's, etc. The screens are very, very small however. I might pay the extra few bucks and drive to Southdale to see the latest superhero/sci-fi effects-laden blockbuster on a REAL movie screen. The screens at St. Anthony are probably in the ballpark of a really rich guy's basement. For comparison, they are much smaller than your typical one-screen historic theater even. I saw Oblivion on a Saturday night, 2nd week of release I believe, and it was not very busy at all.

That's great news. I really like that theater, even though it's become somewhat decrepit. I appreciate the Main's more adult orientation that you don't find in the suburbs. I am puzzled by part about upgrading to digital technology. I thought that all theaters had to do that a while back.

The article states that they've done some upgrades already. The few screens I've been in at St. Anthony have all had digital projectors.

I saw the new Star Trek at St Anthony and I thought it was great, plenty big for me. I much prefer St Anthony for movies than any of the huge theaters.

I always got frustrated in school when my housemates wanted to go to the Rosedale AMC for movies rather than the closer and much cooler St Anthony Main. On the cheap front.. doesn't AMC offer $6 movies all day every day except Fri and Sat though? In any case, I wish there were more theaters like St Anthony Main spread throughout the city...

I always got frustrated in school when my housemates wanted to go to the Rosedale AMC for movies rather than the closer and much cooler St Anthony Main. On the cheap front.. doesn't AMC offer $6 movies all day every day except Fri and Sat though? In any case, I wish there were more theaters like St Anthony Main spread throughout the city...

AMC is now $5 for matinee during the week, $7.50 for week nights, $8 for weekend matinee, and $10.75 for weekend nights.

Not all of the screens at St Anthony Main are smaller like that, though. But I do the same thing: St Anthony Main for most movies and Icon for big special effects or soundtrack movies.

I worked there in the late 1990's. One evening Marilyn Manson came in with his girlfriend at the time (Rose
?) and watched "Pleasantville". He was in town for a tour.

The theater has had limited showings this summer due to the renovation. They have a couple pictures up on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stanthonymaintheatre

I wish there were more theaters like St Anthony Main spread throughout the city...

Running through St. Anthony Main this weekend I was reminded that the old Vic's space is somehow still vacant, but according to this (super long) list of restaurant openings it is soon to be something called Pizza Shark.

https://www.startribune.com/restaurant- ... fresh=true

Running through St. Anthony Main this weekend I was reminded that the old Vic's space is somehow still vacant, but according to this (super long) list of restaurant openings it is soon to be something called Pizza Shark.

https://www.startribune.com/restaurant- ... fresh=true

Must be the second location of the Pizza Shark on Hennepin in the former D'amico space.

What would it take to get this area firing on all cylinders? It's fairly popular during the summer, but pretty dead the rest of the year. It just feels like it should be more successful than it is.

I'm interested in the idea of closing Main Street to car traffic from 3rd to Merriam, but that probably helps in the summer but hurts the rest of the year.

Looking forward to this!

MSP Film Society Upgrades St. Anthony Main Theater

I feel like it would take a lot. It needs to be way better connected to everything else in NE to really thrive IMO. But there's so much crap in the way I don't really know how that's possible.

Some problems- STA Main & Riverplace are essentially walls to the neighborhood, confusing on the inside. The retaining wall under the townhomes (which are a huge barrier to ped access up top too), splits the two business areas in two. The sidewalks & trails down there are barely ADA accessible, landscaping is trashed, and the river side park is in a decrepit state. It needs infrastructure investment and better building frontage.

Yep, all that. Those townhomes really suck.

I’ve always thought that the Christmas market should be there along Main Street… incredible view of downtown and the river.