Dispute over movie theatre facility could go to court
Earlier this month, a movie theatre company announced it will not be renewing its lease at SilverCity.
There’s now a potential legal battle brewing between Cineplex and owner of the property, on the items inside the building.
According to Joseph Mikhail of Mikhail Holdings, Cineplex was going to remove assets, but have agreed to stand down with hopes a mutual agreement can be made.
“It really isn’t about the chairs. There’s 3,000 chairs that they’re removing. I think it’s more of the symbolism of why they’re taking the chairs,” says Mikhail, who’s company owns the property on Walker Road.
If the matter isn’t resolved, it could go to court.
“Those assets were in place when we rented it to you, 20 something years ago,” he says.
In a statement to CTV News Windsor, Cineplex confirmed:
“SilverCity will not reopen after the government mandated closures end on Monday, January 31. We will be exiting the building in accordance with the terms of the lease.”
Cineplex says pre-pandemic attendance levels showed movie goers in Windsor were gravitating to their other location, Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall, which features newer amenities.
The theatre offers enhanced movie experiences, such as full recliner seating, ultraAVX and D-Box motion seats.
The company says they’re currently working in a partnership with IMAX, to bring that experience to their Devonshire location.
“There should be an opportunity for us to have another venue available to the citizens of 500,000 people,” says Mikhail.
“We wanna do our best to try and find another contributor to the theatre business.”
Mikhail tells CTV News Windsor he’s spoken to Landmark Cinema out of Calgary and another group from Manitoba, as a possible replacement.
A third option could be converting the facility into a three play theatre.
“A theatre for children to make like into a Chucky Cheese format with theatres and playing area, a second is for ethnic, a third is for North American viewing and then in the centre, a Playdium-type where it’ll be an amusement type facility.”
SilverCity was in business for over two decades.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.