In a significant shift for Jacksonville cinema-goers, the cherished Sun-Ray Cinema has shut its Five Points doors and announced relocation to Tampa. This comes after the theater's previous building was sold for $7 million in May to Atlanta-based developer Union South Partners, who opted not to renew Sun-Ray's lease. According to details from First Coast News, the former owner, Jack Shad, sold the Five Points Theater Building after nearly two decades of stewardship.
With its rich history stretching back to 1927, when it opened as Riverside Theatre, Sun-Ray Cinema has been a cultural institution in Jacksonville. The cinema's unexpected move stands poised to shake up the Tampa entertainment scene, offering a ten-screen complex and expanded culinary options via a new 4,000 sq ft kitchen. "It's official! We found our next home in Tampa, Florida," declared Sun-Ray in a Facebook announcement, as reported by Action News Jax.
Specialty theaters have found themselves in challenging terrain in today's rapidly evolving media consumption landscape. Andrew Seng from Union South Partners stated that operating a two-screen cinema "simply isn’t financially sustainable in today’s environment," thus casting further light on an industry-wide pressure that Sun-Ray Cinema will navigate in its new locale.
The impending Tampa launch is slated for December 11, much to the delight of cinephiles. Among the inaugural events is a performance by Jozef Van Wissem who will score the silent classic Nosferatu, creating a bridge between Sun-Ray's historic legacy and its future endeavors. "We hope to turn it around by Thanksgiving then renovate as we operate but definitely will be open by 12/11 just in time for Jozef Van Wissem to perform a score to Murnau's Nosferatu two weeks before Eggers’ new version opens on Christmas Day," Sun-Ray announced on social media, in a news tidbit captured by News4Jax. The theater invites all to spread the word and experience the new chapter in Tampa while carrying forward the Sun-Ray spirit.
